The Rip Curl Pro Bells Just Got Canceled - Stab Mag

Live Now — Premium Peek — Episode 4 Of Surf100 Challenge Series Presented By Pacifico

286 Views
Four-time Bells winner Mick Fanning with a traditional line in the Bowl, 2017. Photo: WSL

The Rip Curl Pro Bells Just Got Canceled

“Why is the state government allowing the tennis to go ahead and not the Easter Rip Curl Pro?”

news // Feb 7, 2021
Words by Michael Ciaramella
Reading Time: 3 minutes

Yesterday, it was revealed by The Age that the WSL’s long-held Rip Curl Pro Bells has been canceled for the second year in a row. This time, the cancelation came as a result of the Victorian government’s failure to guarantee accommodation for an incoming international flight of professional surfers. According to a WSL spokesperson, local officials were too busy dealing with the quarantine situation of the Australian Open of Tennis to provide a sufficient answer to the World Surf League.

So, the WSL audibled.

“We were not provided with the assurance to land the plane by the Victorian government and we understood and respected that position as we needed an answer right at the time the tennis issue was unfolding in early January so clearly, that was going to be challenging to achieve,” the league spokesman said.

“We understood why a decision to land our charter in amongst the tennis issues was not possible but we needed a solution for our sport to stay alive in 2021 and we were very fortunate that NSW was able to provide this to us at extremely short notice.”

Some Surf Coast locals are aggrieved by this news, as the Easter-time event brings an estimated $7-8M to the region annually.

soli Bailey gets his face painted
The Torquay community welcomes aboriginal Tour surfer, Soli Bailey, to the Bells event in 2019. Photo: WSL

“All the locals, they share the same disappointment. Some are happy given the COVID-19 health concerns, but there are many who are bitterly disappointed also given it’s a tradition of 60 years,” Surf Coast Shire councillor Paul Barker said.

Liberal MP Sarah Henderson had even harsher words for her opposing party members: “I say shame on the state Labor government for mismanaging this issue so badly. Why is the state government allowing the tennis to go ahead and not the Easter Rip Curl Pro?”

The WSL’s general manager, Andrew Stark, shared the locals’ disappointment.

“We obviously love Bells Beach, we love that event. But the first event this year, due to the pandemic and the challenging circumstances, has to happen in NSW because that’s where the charter’s landing,” he told Today on Sunday.

John Florence does a big air
John Florence an a new approach to the Bells Bowl. Photo: WSL

As reported several weeks ago, the WSL has a private plane scheduled to leave California in early March and land in Sydney. From there, all surfers and Tour adherents will spend 14-20 days in a Sydney hotel (depending on local quarantine rules at that time), after which time they will be able to begin their string of competitions.

The WSL has stated their intention to run a minimum of four events during their Australian leg, but exactly where those events will run remains unclear. As reported two days ago, an event in Newcastle was added to the Tour schedule following protests from the Lennox Head community, who did not want a WSL event to run at their famed point. The Newcastle event is scheduled to run over the traditional Bells Easter window, from April 1-11.

Following Newcastle, the WSL is scheduled to head directly to Margaret River, Western Australia, then to Coolangatta, Queensland for the final event of the Australian leg. However, it’s possible that following the recent Bells cancelation, the WSL will attempt to squeeze in another New South Wales event between Newcastle and WA to achieve their desired four-event minimum.

Naturally, all plans are relatively tentative at this time.

Comments

Comments are a Stab Premium feature. Gotta join to talk shop.

Already a member? Sign In

Want to join? Sign Up

Advertisement

Most Recent

Royalties, Equity, and YouTube: Brandon Wasserman on Surfing’s New Economy

“If you’re taking those kinds of swings, you could be walking away from a lot…

Jul 19, 2025

So, Who’s Gonna Make The Final Five?

One event to go. We did the math so you don't have to.

Jul 18, 2025

Power Surfing Isn’t Dead

Connor O'Leary & Gabriela Bryan assert their strength at rifling J-Bay, win their first and…

Jul 18, 2025

WSL Changes Fiji Format One Month Before Finals — Carissa Moore And CJ Hobgood React

"Does it really matter at this point?"

Jul 18, 2025

Surf100 Challenge Series Presented By Pacifico: Episode 4

Our surfers' most dreaded challenge: The Zero Sum Game.

Jul 17, 2025

“My Feet Are Completely Fucked. I Didn’t Expect Them To Get This Infected And Mouldy.”

A mid-world record check-in with Blakey Johnston.

Jul 17, 2025

Why The Surf Industry’s Kingmakers Are Betting On Florence

Pat O’Connell and Evan Slater on why ex-Volcom, Billabong and Hurley CEOs are riding shotgun.

Jul 16, 2025

Mixed Symmetry — The Surfboards Of Milk & Honey 

As told by Stephanie Gilmore, Caity Simmers, Coco Ho, and Frankie Harrer

Jul 16, 2025

Cloud 9 Becomes First Surf Break To Outlaw Beginner Surf Lessons

Time to make it a universal ruling at sketchy reef breaks? A local photographer explains.

Jul 15, 2025

10 Shapers To Watch In The Next 10 Years — Part Two

A few more foam craftsmen worth keeping on your radar.

Jul 14, 2025

Watch: Rip Curl Mobilises Its Teenage Army In ‘Dunno’

A 30-minute surf film by Vaughan Blakey and Nick Pollet.

Jul 14, 2025

There’s A New Number One Surfer In The World

And it feels so right.

Jul 13, 2025

Controversial Opinion: No One Needs To Yoga In Boardshorts

8 Trunks for the traditionalist.

Jul 13, 2025

Stab Edit Of The Year: Sam Piter Stars in ‘Rogue DNA’.

French blood, thick water.

Jul 13, 2025

Matty McG Skydives Into CT Heat, But Jordy’s Still The Main Event

A full day of heats at J-Bay, and only one shark warning.

Jul 12, 2025

Correction: J-Bay All Foreplay, No Climax

Slim pickings on Day 1 of the Corona Cero Open J-Bay 2025.

Jul 11, 2025

What Do Hollywood, Surf Lessons, Michael Jackson And Traction Pads Have In Common?

A Stab Interview with Teva Dexter, the man behind surfing's hardest new hardware brand —…

Jul 10, 2025

Surf100 Challenge Series Presented By Pacifico: Episode 3

"The tribe has spoken," Dane Reynolds pronounced, and a surfer's torch was snuffed.

Jul 10, 2025
Advertisement