Matt Wilkinson has earned a place in the finals against Jordy Smith at the Rip Curl Pro. Wilko dispatched Italo Ferreira in the semis with his huge backhand whip in 6-8 foot unruly, Bells bowl. “Hopefully I get two nines in the first 10 minutes and see what happens,” said Wilko when asked about his strategy heading into the final. Wilko now has an opportunity to put himself way out in front and go for a world title.

“Two more good waves,” said Jordy Smith after defeating Mick Fanning and earning a place in the final against Matt Wilkinson. The 28-year-old South African who has been hampered by injuries for much of his career has lived up to his potential at Bells. The big wild conditons have provided the perfect canvas for the big man to lay down his patented power carves and drop wallet jams. A win here would put him back into world title talk.

So who will ring the bell? Will it be the first goof-footer since Mark Occhilupo in 1998 or the first South African in the history of the sport?