Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach: Day 4
Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach: Day 4
Condensed day on Easter Sunday to take advantage of some overhead sets and an enthusiastic crowd on the beach, all of whom had done the one unique thing regarding Bells Beach's status as a professional surfing event: paid money to be there.
They got some value for money in warm Victorian sunshine as eight heats were run. Like it has been for all but a handful of heats, the surf was tricky and hard to surf. Wonky, wobbly, bumpy, fat-faced waves across the Bells Bowl, with pieces of lip falling randomly and at odd angles. Any clean wave which stood up across the Bowl was usually the heat winner, sometimes a matter of pure luck, sometimes the result of a hustle which forced a mistake or bad decision from an opponent. That was the case in the anticipated Quarter Final 2 between Cole Houshmand and Ethan Ewing. The whole heat rested on the opening wave. Cole on the hustle, cramping Ethan and forcing him deep. The wave came and according to Cole, “I went wide and he let me have it."
The days of timid rookies deferring to established tour surfers has long gone. Proof positive was Cole Houshmand, riding high on confidence, forcing the issue against Ethan Ewing. (WSL/Hughes)
If there's been a theme this event it's been baffling decision-making from both the elite sitting in the revolving restuarant and those in the cellar. Callum Robson gave up the heat winning wave to Kade Matson. Medina suffered a similar brain explosion to give Houshmand the winning wave. One might think considering these examples, plus Ewing's stranding in the QF against Toledo here two years ago, he might have shown more urgency. At any rate, Cole smashed it for an incredibly overcooked 9.07, which effectively ended the heat as a contest. The ocean went sleepy and Ewing was left with a single ride for a 6. At its core, surfing a heat has a very simple equation: best two waves wins. If you only catch one, you've made a catastrophic error. It almost felt like self-flagellation, like Ethan was punishing himself for the earlier mistake. In the grand scheme of things, likely no problem for Ethan; going on form he'll make the Top 5.
The other noteworthy theme running through Bells and the year as a whole is inconsistent performances and inconsistent results. Only Griff and Ethan are running what might be thought of as conventional world title campaigns. All the talk in the booth this year has been about how red-hot and motivated John Florence looks to nab a third Title. The results tell a different story. The trend is descending, not ascending. Second at Pipe, fifth at Sunset, ninth at Portugal, and now seventeenth at Bells. A ten-year old kid could run a ruler over that and see a steep decline. That is not World Champ form.
The women's side looks more settled, even if some of the results don't accurately reflect the strength of performances - a consequence of condensed fields and lucky draws. Defay is still alive after a solid but unspectacular win over wildcard Ellie Harrison. Caity Simmers is number two in the world and got past Gabby Bryan on solid surfing with some flair on the end section. After Bryan put her in a combination position, Caity answered back very cooly on a set wave which she surfed within herself - it used to be called safety surfing - for an 8.50.
She sounded a little incredulous about it herself in the presser: “I've never had a heat, ever, where I've done it like you are supposed to,” she said. “I always fall, so that was amazing." Acknowledging the low risk nature of the ride she said, “I forced myself to get a good wave and go through the motions."
It lacked the flair we've come to know and appreciate, but it was a heat win and Caity will take it (WSL/Sloane)
Going through the motions has been Griff's key to success this comp. Just cruising, surfing well within his own performance envelope, throwing out a big move once he's got the job done. Scrapping for position but not emotionally engaging in battles with his brother or once fierce rival Jake Marshall. Griff let slip after a dominant win over Jake that as kids and adolescents they had some ding dong battles that he called “hectic” which he alluded to were still carried on out of the water. They'd made up once Jake made the tour and pledged to, “have each others backs.” The Californian peacemaker was smooth, radical when he wanted to be, always controlled, and never looked like falling.
Zoom out and Griff is setting up, not just a good Bells campaign, not even just a good Aussie leg, but a very good season (WSL/Hughes)
Under current pace, Griff is cruising into Trestles as number one seed. Would he even need to lift the tempo with no Toledo? Probably not.
By the time Rio and Kade Matson hit the water the flooding tide was killing the Bowl. There wasn't much to be had and it all came down to a few more click hits from Rio and one full-bodied explosion on a mid-wave closeout section. Kade got nothing really, and heads into Margies looking to save his bacon. It doesn't seem dire for him – plenty of time for another go around on the Challenger.
Though he's the polar opposite of Houshmand: a nimble natural foot, compared to a heavy-set goofy, both Rio and Cole are leaving their stamp on Bells 2024 (WSL/Hughes)
As for Finals Day proper? God knows, presumably sometime before the end of the waiting period, probably the last if this year's template continues.
//STEVE SHEARER
Comments
As you said housemand first wave score an absolute joke
And morgs get beat by 0.01!
2 judges give him 6.3,0ne a 5.7 and two judges a 5.5
At that level how can you have a 0.8 differences
It was a 6 any day the way waves have been scored last few days
But good for Matt,hopefully he will escape the cut
Overall some big movers up the ladder for those below the cut will make margs very interesting
Hopefully some swell and not dribble like bells has been
You’d swear Caity Simmers stepped out of a Time Machine direct from peak Grunge era.
Beat description i’ve heard is “potty mouth surf rat” and i fucking love her so much.
Hope she dosen't get media training and become boring as truck
100% - she's a cracker in and out of the water.
Another day of shit waves, You might make allowances for the call to send these Women and Men out there today? But What the fuck is going on here!!! Most QS CS Surfers could of surfed similar to any surfing today in that below average surf. This is embarrassing and a fuckin rip off.
Even the commentators are out of their league in trying to justifying this bullshit.
Best Surfers in the Best Waves.... I Don't think so...
Nearly 50 years in Pro Surfing and yet another forgettable comp.
Agree. Last 2 events with their conditions and judging have kept a lot of surfers that are well outside top 10 level in the midst. Guess it’s good for competition.
I had no idea the punters paid to be there. Wow that's interesting. Any other surf comps do that? I'm guessing trestles
Local postcodes are free.
Not Trestles, Bells is the only one.
Stubbies at Burleigh briefly tried to charge admission but ceased doing it quickly.
Do we think ticket sales factor in much about when to run?
Or is it more of a marketing thing to have lots of punters on the beach?
I don’t think they’d put much value on ticket sales.
Imagine paying and they run at Winki. Paying punters relegated to sitting on the cold bitumen in the Bells car park while the sycophants and bootlickers get to watch from the rocks
yesterday they had the general public all over the low tide reef at winki, looked like a good way to watch.
Were they general public Jono- looked like pro surfers and entourages, maybe their families to me?
They normally block off Winki steps from general public.
I went back and had a look, deffo some crew there, you might be right.
Edit, looked at some more morning low tide heats- pretty sure that was pro surfers and friends/family.
Yeah this is what I saw, looked like general public to me? Lots of people flowing past the stairs in the background too.
Yeah, I think you are right.
Wonder if they walked up from Boobs or down from Bells?
In the past I’ve seen security block it from Bells. I’ve never seen punters allowed down the Winki stairs.
They’ve probably got in early or done the trek on the low tide from Steps.
Low tide spectators walked around the beach from Bells past the button.They had a demarcation plastic tape line at the bottom of the Winki steps.Later after the tide changed they had to herd everyone back around the edge of the Winki reef to Bells .Was quite a funny scene of bottlenecked surf tourists racing against tide.
Thanks for clarifying. Would have been a sight as the tide came in!
I'm no communist Bolshevik, but charging people to go to the beach and then not even letting them watch the contest cos it moved around the corner seems downright unaustralian to me. Lucky we don't riot easily.
At the Margs comp the local shire tickle your balls and give free (rate payer paid ) piss to the VIP trough feeders
Brissa solid and consistent. Love watching her surf but rarely gets a mention in wrap ups.
Quickly becoming my tip to take the championship this year.
Obviously letting Cole go the first wave was the deciding factor Ethan’s heat. But as for it being a legitimate tactical error, how often are heats decided in the first minute, with only 3 rideable waves total in a 35 minute heat?
That said, wave selection is by far the biggest problem with Ethan’s competitive surfing, whether there are waves in the heat, or not. Twice he’s been completely skunked at Bells in the last 3 years.
Sooki La la
Stoked for Rio.
Hope he can go the whole way!
ha ha ha, self-flagellation even! Happy Easter. Thanks the goddesses that Caity lowered her standards to “surf within herself” and get through. extra chocolate and best wishes to Caity for the win.
The real competition seems to be who can make the best round tail, to surf 3ft mush.
A bit of roaming BT at Bells (for the AFL fans)...
https://www.facebook.com/7AFL/videos/2699130203558582/
haha that's gold @jono.
The big bristle!
Cheers.
Who is that?
Boofhead ex AFL player. Now boofhead AFL commentator. Brian Taylor aka Bristle.
This might sound odd that basherz watch boardriderz comps.
Being a former competitive grom boardrider lends some background and insight.
Don't freak out with this comment as it's brutally honest to respect boardriders / shapers.
Bells comp draws that conclusion...but physics demands this long way round to get there!
Stand Up Boardriders read waves well in advance but suffer slowest response.
Having one's head in the clouds further distances boardrider from wave synergy.
Layer upon layer of goop shields out miles and miles of 4,000 light years Wave refraction.
Not helpful if yer strapped to rails, wrapped in rubber dead from the waist down...
Bodysurfers see less wavelength but absorb all vital light year rays to sense wave changes.
By surfing whole wave inside out, one can mould wave / body shape ahead of time to suit.
Yes! Like a worn out suit...not strange when life & death demands so...drum up all forces.
Infinite changing craft/s of volume, rails, fins shapes up well in advance of wave formation.
Don't believe that...can't do that, then ya lost yer dance partner! (Each are Unfathomobiles!)
Never seen a blue planet creature surf better than us sea serpents...born 2 surf!
Watching boardrider comps is like watching a Lion Tamer with a chair.
All wanna see the Wave eat the dude that keeps whippin' the poor beast to death.
Kind like watching a 2-3 second delayed telecast of surfing...excruciatingly slow & torturous.
tbb watches for Boardrider's farsighted wave reading but cringes at tawdry response.
Now! Jettison that dead weight cargo & surf the fucker like the sea serpents that we are.
Unleash > let go of the rails > fly be free...how hard can it be...surfjustsurf!
So when ALL see one boardrider get the jump on another it's of interest to a basher...
Has this guy got a surfer's brain...ONE OF US...
Could he surf that line-up without half a dozen P&O concierges and buffets.
Bells being a challenging long flat wave to bodysurf...so we can rule that out for a start.
Plus the bloke tbb is talking about (Man of the moment) is a large sluggish unit!
That can be of benefit, but only if one can Bodyflex well, talking 10-20 years practice.
Ok! But why is this Lump of a Lad surfing so effortlessly when others are lagging behind.
It's obvious that his boards are different but how & why...
tbb can spot the obvious and has even chartered his said shaper's Comp progress...here!
https://www.swellnet.com/news/swellnet-dispatch/2023/01/27/the-wsl-intro...
Crew know full well tbb is neither as smart or stupid as he sounds...nor normal!
But smart enough not to tread on crew's area of expertise...
tbb often argues that we neutrals or outsiders are still essential in outing obvious anomaly.
Again what we see is a trick of the eye...this surfer is riding different boards to competitors!
Sounds bizarre but all will be explained...
How different are we talkin'...again...not for tbb to say...that's secret men's stuff!
More than happy to drag the crew kickin' and screamin' to his source of effortless power.
Last year's Tour winners Mayhem have re-branded as ...LOST (Currently...in 2nd Place)
Has 2 US surfers powering thru this flattish surf to reach Semis...the WSL pros to beat!
Both are certainly making waves as crew put it...but least for their surfing prowess!
Ok! Even tbb agrees with the crew...not the most flash surfers but score highly...Why!
tbb admits to being engaged with their shaper's speak...not usually tbb's thang...
Know enough to know it's of high value to share this shaper's spy Intel with the crew!
https://www.swellnet.com/news/swellnet-dispatch/2023/01/27/the-wsl-intro...
Bells comp changed tbb's tune on board shapes...ask why tbb gotta get his hands dirty?
Most unusual for a basher to point this out...does it mean Comp board progress...maybe!
That's a pretty big call for least progressive board sport with non standout surfers.
But Hodad Matt has runs on the { Bored Board Board } ...That's real alright > credit is due!
Here Matt talks about Cole's Boards in general terms...Cole seems ambivalent to Wotz Wot?
Makes ya wonder who is leading who & does anyone still love Comp surfing anymore?
Mean that, as more Councils / Wavepools ban bodysurfing & Bodyboarding in 2-3ft waves.
Pretty soon only got Layers of this or nothin'...tbb is not on board with new surfing bans!
All above board video...happy to share the here'n'now of Comp Power Game Plans!
Here we're talking about Cole's Sunset board but crew quickly know, that's not the focus...
Shaper is pioneering curved boards for pockets in Flat faces...seems to be a new thing!
Might pay to read Vid text in this regard...
Of most interest to big boys wanting to showboat boring Flat walls...to look the part.
We're talking about boards that whip up higher scores than their laggard boardriders.
tbb knows the man of the moment is driving everyone crazy...so just that, is wot this is!
Yes! tbb has read the comments and agrees...the guy is hardly surfing...Wot gives!
Think that's the point here...tbb & all wanna know why & wot the judges are scoring?
This is an official WSL video...basher rates it highly for lending more insight into comps.
Without even ever mentioning comps!
Hodad tbb is no old comp fool & knows these boards are designed to fool Comp Judges!
Don't care wot comic it is...just that it's an organic curio that sucks us non boardriders in!
Yes! tbb feels more fine tuned to Comp Shaper's score-board boards after watching...
(Give them wot they want!) Serve it upon a platter...isn't that the smoke and mirrors we see!
Not actual surfing progression but Comp Boards > designed to showboat higher scores!
Like Thorpedo's teflon Speedos or Kathy's Clownsuit...now the WSL Judges cop a Spray!
Just watched that Vid a 2nd time...there seemed to be something tbb missed...
Knew it...there it is...the smoking gun.
[1:18] Stay in the Pocket and [ Do wot the criteria asks for!] Bingo!
Check how Matt looks at his Profile when he says this...100% Comp Judge Board Shape!
That there is yer latest 2024 surf sticker...(Hodads can frame that for their Shaping Sheds!)
Be the updated Foreward in the History of Surfing Encyclopedia!
[ Just do wot the WSL Judges Criteria asks for! ] Kaboom! We have a Winner!
Was just about to share that for @Jono
Hahaha that’s gold.
I genuinely don’t understand the crew that head to Bells when it’s running at Winki, only to literally sit in a car park and watch it on a big screen while paying stupid prices for food and drink. Real odd.
Ha ha. Follow the forecast, then your dreams.
Never been a fan of Rio…but, I think his surfing is getting better as he gets more comfortable on tour. I am 100% hoping he wins the whole event now. Would be a pretty cool bit of history to watch.
I wonder if he is very well known in non surfing Indo?
Are you kidding? How could you not be a fan of Rio's surfing. And yes, he's very well known in Indo outside the surf industry.
Fuck yes thank you udo and raglans.. bahahahaha I just watched it... Sooo cool..
Classic!
So funny...Ol' mate needs a Proper Bells Beer for his Beer Ad!
Now he's living his dream!
https://bellsbeachbrewing.com.au/
John John is hundred percent in world championship form, just needs a canvas.
As with Ethan v Kate, he just needed a proper wave. Watch him unleash at Margs and then Cloudbreak and Chlopes
Etc. I know I sound like a fan boy but whenever he’s on a proper wave he just looks so much better than the rest. Maybe only Ethan and Griff come close to matching him rail
Perhaps whole point of being a world champ is getting it done no matter what the conditions which goes
Against my point but in a surfing comp on great waves JJf wins more than he loses on let’s say an 80/20 ratio
Does that Renato Hickel guy give anyone else the creeps ? Something fishy about that guy .. Every time he comes on i think Uh oh..
Apart from being entrenched in the WSL corporate machine, he’s actually not a bad fella. Surfed with him a bunch in Cooly, he’s pretty chill in the water
Went down to Vicco for Easter to see family Anglesea, thought I'd take the family to watch some Bells while we were there. Only 1 road access point to the site (the road from the Anglesea side where we were coming from was blocked) and huge line up of cars stretching for a mile and all up about $50 for us to enter.
After 20min in the car line went yeah nah and did a U-turn. Not waiting that long so that I can pay $50 bucks to watch small Winki. After reading above and hearing that you may not have even been allowed down on the beach at Winki I think we made the right call.
heart says Rio, head says Griff.