Round two of the 2013 Rip Curl Pro, Bells Beach

Uh, Jordy Smith posted a 19.14 combined heat total at the Rip Curl Pro, Bells Beach today. Reckon his surfing adapts well to the wave? “I have really good equipment under my feet right now,” Jordy said. “The boards feel really solid and I think big Bells Bowl waves really suit my surfing. I love having big walls to carve up. I didn’t have the best start to the season with a 13th at Snapper but it’s a long year ahead. I’m healthy, I feel like I’m surfing my best and I’m just focusing on put it together in heats. Bells is an opportunity for me to gain some early traction this season and that’s my goal.” Jordy will face Alejo Muniz in round three tomorrow.

Earlier, in round two, Taj Burrow beat wildcard Jacob Wilcox, and Dusty Payne beat Owen Wright. When Taj and Dusty met in round three, it was always gonna be a treat. Dusty posted a 9.37 but couldn’t back up, and it was Taj’s solid nine and 7.33 that scooped a place in round four. “Starting with a huge score is sometimes scary because you have to back it up,” said Taj. “I wanted to get a backup quickly but couldn’t find one. Dusty couldn’t find one either until late in the heat when he got a smoker. He’s in a really good rhythm and coming off a win out West so he was always going to be a danger if he got the waves. I’ve had a few shockers here over the past few years but I’m taking it on as a challenge, changed a few things up and I’m here to ring the Bell 100%,” Burrow said. “This event is hugely prestigious and can really set a pace for the rest of the season. A win here is the goal.”

Round three was promised seven heats, but only made it to the end of the third. And in that heat, rookie Nat Young took down Julian Wilson. “That was huge for me,” said Nat. “I lost in this round at Snapper so my goal was to improve from there. The waves weren’t pretty, but I knew if I could find a few, I could maybe get a few scores on my backhand. Julian is so polished and so good – it was always going to be a difficult heat. Stoked to get through and we’ll just see what tomorrow brings.”

Find out what tomorrow does indeed bring in the morning, over here.

RIP CURL PRO BELLS BEACH ROUND 2 RESULTS:
Heat 1: Taj Burrow (AUS) 16.50 def. Jacob Willcox (AUS) 12.16
Heat 2: Gabriel Medina (BRA) 15.90 def. Jack Perry (AUS) 12.17
Heat 3: Adriano de Souza (BRA) 15.73 def. Oney Anwar (IDN) 7.43
Heat 4: Jeremy Flores (FRA) 14.10 def. Patrick Gudauskas (USA) 13.90
Heat 5: Tiago Pires (PRT) 17.57 def. Michel Bourez (PYF) 17.27
Heat 6: Dusty Payne (HAW) 17.10 def. Owen Wright (AUS) 9.50
Heat 7: Jordy Smith (ZAF) 19.14 def. Glenn Hall (IRL) 11.77
Heat 8: C.J. Hobgood (USA) 18.10 def. Adam Melling (AUS) 11.33
Heat 9: Bede Durbidge (AUS) 14.60 def. Brett Simpson (USA) 14.23
Heat 10: Sebastian Zietz (HAW) 16.33 def. Travis Logie (ZAF) 15.43
Heat 11: Damien Hobgood (USA) 15.07 def. Kieren Perrow (AUS) 14.60
Heat 12: Kai Otton (AUS) 15.43 def. Matt Wilkinson (AUS) 13.43

RIP CURL PRO BELLS BEACH ROUND 3 RESULTS:
Heat 1: Taj Burrow (AUS) 16.33 def. Dusty Payne (HAW) 10.27
Heat 2: Kai Otton (AUS) 14.67 def. Jeremy Flores (FRA) 14.23
Heat 3: Nat Young (USA) 12.50 def. Julian Wilson (AUS) 10.50

RIP CURL PRO BELLS BEACH REMAINING ROUND 3 MATCH-UPS:
Heat 4: Josh Kerr (AUS) vs. Sebastian Zietz (HAW)
Heat 5: Adrian Buchan (AUS) vs. Bede Durbidge (AUS)
Heat 6: Kelly Slater (USA) vs. Willian Cardoso (BRA)
Heat 7: Joel Parkinson (AUS) vs. Raoni Monteiro (BRA)
Heat 8: C.J. Hobgood (USA) vs. Damien Hobgood (USA)
Heat 9: Adriano de Souza (BRA) vs. Kolohe Andino (USA)
Heat 10: Gabriel Medina (BRA) vs. Filipe Toledo (BRA)
Heat 11: Jordy Smith (ZAF) vs. Alejo Muniz (BRA)
Heat 12: Mick Fanning (AUS) vs. Tiago Pires (PRT)

RIP CURL WOMEN’S PRO BELLS BEACH FINAL MATCH-UP:
Tyler Wright (AUS) VS. Carissa Moore (HAW)