Second chance in the surf

LAST year it was the Mick Fanning farewell show. This year things will be very different at Bells Beach when the Victorian surf break hosts Round 2 of the women’s and men’s 2019 world tour events.

This year every round of the WSL is crucial for surfers with the tour doubling as an important part of Olympic selection.

It is also the second of only three world tour surfing events held in Australia.

US teenager Caroline Mark and Brazilian Italo Ferreira will wear the yellow leaders vests into Bells Beach after winning Round 1 of the world tour on the Gold Coast this month.

The top 17 women’s surfers in the world plus wildcards, and the top 34 men in the world plus wildcards will all compete at the annual event.

With four crowns, Stephanie Gilmore is Australia’s most successful surfer at Bells Beach and looking to shine again after a forgettable season start on the Gold Coast.

Australia does not have a single man currently on the world tour who has won at Bells Beach.

However Wade Carmichael, brothers Owen and Mikey Wright and Julian Wilson will be looking to shake things up.

Mark Richards, Kelly Slater and Mick Fanning have all won at Bells four times.

Andy McKinnon’s Surf Scene column: Tomorrow’s Bulletin