With the iconic Bells Beach cliffs standing tall behind them, the world’s best surfers have gathered in Victoria, Australia, for the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach Presented by Bonsoy, which officially kicked off today, marking Stop No. 5 on the 2025 World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour (CT). This event starts the highly anticipated GWM Aussie Treble, a pivotal three-stop leg that could define the rest of the season.
The competition window runs from April 18 through April 28, 2025, and today’s forecast promises an exciting start. Bells Beach comes at a crucial moment in the tour calendar, especially after a wave of upsets and unexpected results in Stop No. 4 at El Salvador, which has shaken up the rankings. With only three events before the mid-season cut, every heat at Bells carries significant implications.
Reigning Bells champion Caity Simmers (USA) returns to the event ranked World No. 1, following a powerful run across the first four events of 2025. Her consistent form includes Quarterfinal finishes or better at every stop, highlighted by her win at the Surf Abu Dhabi Pro. “It's been a whirlwind,” said Simmers. “I just want to make a turn in my heat… I hope we get fun waves, and today the waves are really fun, so that’s a good sign.”
Italo Ferreira (BRA) also sits at World No. 1 and shares a deep connection with Bells Beach, the site of his first CT victory in 2018. That win catapulted him toward a World Title in 2019 and eventually Olympic Gold in 2021. Ferreira has reached Finals Day four times in the past seven events at Bells. “I was watching [the celebration video] this morning,” Ferreira said. “That was my first win… it’s really special to be back… I’m No. 1 and this makes me more motivated to win and do my best.”
Adding to the excitement, Jordy Smith (RSA) arrives at Bells with renewed confidence after clinching his first CT win in eight years at the Surf City El Salvador Pro. Now ranked World No. 5, the 37-year-old is ready for the point breaks of the Aussie leg, starting with Bells Beach – the site of his last CT win in 2017. “I’m an absolute surf dog, surf frother at heart,” Smith shared. “I’m 20 years older than some of the people on Tour, so I just have them inspire me and push me.” With 17 years of CT experience, Bells holds sentimental value for Smith. “I first came to Bells when I was 12… it was the very first place I travelled to outside of South Africa… I still get that feeling when I run down the stairs.”
The women's opening round heats featured exciting matchups. In Heat 1, Gabriela Bryan (HAW) faced off against Brisa Hennessy (CRC) and Nadia Erostarbe (ESP), while Heat 2 saw Molly Picklum (AUS) competing against Vahine Fierro (FRA) and Ellie Harrison (AUS). Harrison, a replacement entry for this event, won her heat with a score of 13.00, while Picklum posted 9.23, narrowly securing her place in the next round. “I’m just happy to be through,” Picklum said, reflecting on her performance after finishing no worse than the semi-finals in all four WSL rounds so far this season.
Tyler Wright (AUS), who won at Bells in 2022 and 2023, also advanced to the round of 16 after winning her heat. The competition is fierce, with the men’s opening round and women’s elimination rounds scheduled for today as well, setting the stage for a thrilling day of surfing.
As the event officially gets underway, excitement fills the air as surfers, fans, and event organizers keep a close watch on the forecast for a dynamic start to the 2025 Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach. With the GWM Aussie Treble kicking off, the surfing world is buzzing with anticipation. Will Simmers successfully defend her title? Can Ferreira maintain his position at the top? Will Smith carry his momentum from El Salvador to the final? The answers will unfold over the next ten days as the world’s best surfers battle it out on the waves of Bells Beach.
The event started only five days after the last round in El Salvador, and with many competitors still battling jet lag, the dynamics of the competition could shift rapidly. The impact of one-off entrants like Harrison, who is competing as a replacement for Brazilian star Tatiana Weston-Webb, who recently announced her break from the world tour due to mental health reasons, adds another layer of intrigue to the competition.
As the competitors take to the waves, the stakes are high. The Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach is not just another stop on the tour; it’s a critical juncture that will influence the rankings and determine which surfers will make the Mid-season Cut. With the world watching, the pressure is on, and every wave counts.
As the first bell of the Aussie Treble rings today, all eyes are on Bells Beach. The stage is set for an unforgettable competition, and the world’s best surfers are ready to put on a show. Who will rise to the occasion? Only time will tell as the heats unfold and the waves roll in.
