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The 50th anniversary has come and gone and it’s the start of a new era at the Rip Curl Pro – what can we expect? |
A glorious sight – big SW sets hitting way outside Rincon (centreside) and heading towards the Bowl. Pic: ASP/Kirstin
Last year’s Rip Curl Pro was the best ever! Big statement I know, but it’s true. Great waves, a ten day long celebration of the events fiftieth year that included almost all the past champions and a final that featured two mates going (power) ape-shit in the bowl – Hemingway couldn’t have scripted it better.
Joel Parkinson and Mick Fanning’s performance in the rising six-foot plus swell epitomized the events reputation as one that requires aqua-man like skills to conquer. Super hero surfing skills aside, you also need a swag full of grit, extremely well honed ocean skills and a big ol’ golden bucket of luck… “No kook has ever won Bells” Is a line that former Tracks editor and now global head of marketing at Rip Curl, Neil Ridgway, is always keen to lay on ya. He’s not wrong.
Kelly Slater, Taj Burrow, Mick Fanning, Shane Dorian, Mark Occhilupo, Tom Carroll, Mark Richards, Sunny Garcia, Andy Irons, Tom Curren, Martin Potter, Simon Anderson, Mark Richards and of course, the recently departed three time winner Michael Peterson [who passed away 28TH March 2012, age 59] are examples of Neil’s mantra.
Joel Parkinson capped off his 50th anniversay final win with a 10 (tube included) – nuts. Pic: natesmithphoto.com
The honour roll of who’s taken home the elusive bell [not complete above] is a mighty one. “I think it’s the only trophy in pro surfing that actually matters…” Mark Richards told Tracks last year. He went on to explain how he also felt that after 20 years he was sure if you went into a surfer’s house it’d be the only trophy that would still be on show for all to see. That’s what this event means.
And it’s not just men’s surfing that has elevated no one but the best among pro surfers. The women’s event has been a doorway for which only the best have been able to negotiate their way through. Last year Sally Fitzgibbons’ name was elevated to lofty heights thanks to her courageous win on the Rincon section of the Bells cliff’s.. And prior to her win names like Steph Gilmore, Silvana Lima, Layne Beachley, Lisa Anderson, Wendy Botha and way back to Margo Oberg scream out with pride. These women have battled the elements with the best of them and come out on top.
Mick Fanning won Bells as a wildcard in 2001 – can he ring the Bell again in 2012? Pic: ASP/Robertson
But as the title of this piece suggests, the 2012 Rip Curl Pro presented by Ford is the beginning of a new era for the Victorian event.
50 years has come and gone.
Past champions have been honoured and forefathers of the wave itself acknowledged – Joe Sweeney and Peter Troy lead us to Bells [literally, thanks to bulldozers and on foot tenacity] and now the Bells Beach Surfing Reserve is there for all to enjoy.
So with a clean slate the future champions must now step up. Will a member of the new breed forge a trail through the field of 36 surfers and etch their name on the tablet of surfing folklore?
Kelly Slater first won Bells in 1994 – he knows power surfing rules supreme in the Bells Bowl. Pic: natesmithphoto.com
Gabriel Medina, Julian Wilson, Kolohe Andino, John John Florence and others like them all have blastered their way onto the ASP elite World Championship Tour with exceptional aerial abilities… Truth be told however, these galactic fins-free skills could count for naught if the current swell forecasts are anything to go by. Come Tuesday the third of April we could be kicking things off in the Bells Bowl with a solid six-foot swell that looks set to increase into Wednesday. Power surfing is what will be required if this awesome looking chart holds true.
If that’s the case, Parko, Slater, Fanning, Jordy Smith, Adriano De Souza, Burrow and co will be licking their lips. The older boys can punt too – there’s no doubting that fact. But we’re back in black, and power could prove to be the new school cool once again. Let’s ring ‘em – Hells Bells is coming!
– Col B
NOTE: Tracks’ ‘Fingers In The Bowl’ will be back daily from the event as well as blogs, photos and more… Stay on tracksmag.com
WATCH: The Rip Curl Pro presented by Ford live at live.ripcurlpro.com and on FuelTV
