Four Wild Bells Predictions

Photos courtesy of WSL & Lancifer Visual 

With minimal time to piece itself together after a rocky start to the 2015 season, the WSL is full steam ahead once again. This week, the heat draw for the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach hit the inter-web, and speculation has begun in force. Based on the swell forecasts on both Surfline and Magic Seaweed, looks like we’re in for another grovel-fest of sorts. With the start of the waiting period on April first, now’s a better time than ever to lay down some predictions with our favorite clipped-commentator, Mr. Damien “Dooma” Fahrenfort.

1- Kelly Slater will come up short again. With the forecast for the majority of the waiting period looking dismal, we expect the champ’s interest levels to be low. That said, maybe hoping on a funky new Firewire will be a perfect remedy to his millionaire blues.

2- Filipe Toledo will make the Quarters…at least. The way this kid was surfing at Snapper was plain scary. Jerseys don’t interfere with his his air-game, and he does, despite what the internet loves shouting, have a rail game. During the final at Snapper, he successfully opened his bag o’ tricks to the world, both above the lip and on the face, and will be tough to take down if the forecast holds true.

3- Julian Wilson will be in Numero uno after Bells. Currently sitting in a comfy second place, fresh off a runner up on the Goldie and a Pipe Masters win, Jules don’t mess around these days. Jordy’s one stellar wave aside, Julian was the best surfer at Bells last year, and we’re sure he hasn’t lost his touch. With a rail game as solid as anyone’s, and an on-demand air game to boot, he should fit on the mushy Bells walls wonderfully.

4- Mason Ho will be the wild card at Bells. What better a way would there be for Rip Curl to unveil their newest acquisition to the masses? If they choose to add the world’s most fun surfer to the world’s most boring event, we’d, like, totally think they’re the best.

Round one:

HT 1: T. Burrow, W. Dantas, J. Flores
HT 2: A. de Souza, K. Otton, B. Simpson
HT 3: K. Slater, S. Zietz, R. Christie
HT 4: J. Florence, I. Ferreira, C. Hobgood
HT 5: M. Fanning, F. Patacchia Jr., TBD
HT 6: G. Medina, M. Banting, TBD
HT 7: J. Smith, A. Buchan, K. Asing
HT 8: M. Bourez, N. Young, D. Payne
HT 9: J. Parkinson, M. Pupo, G. Hall
HT 10: J. Kerr, B. Durbidge, A. Melling
HT 11: F. Toledo, O. Wright, J. Andre
HT 12: J. Wilson, K. Andino, M. Wilkinson