Window closes on 50-Year Storm

THE window for the Bells Beach 50-Year-Storm Invitational has closed for the year, with organisers saying conditions were tantalisingly close this time for the event to run.

The waiting period for the 2018 instalment of the one-day big wave surfing competition – which will only happen when the surf at Bells reaches at least 12 feet – began on June 2 and ended on August 31.

Speaking on behalf of the event organisers, Carlo Lowden said a major weather system in Southern Ocean created very promising conditions and had the 30-strong field on high alert on the morning of July 19.

“It pumped! And we almost went. However, it just wasn’t quite big enough to run in the end,” Mr Lowden said.

“This event is to honour the legacy of Shaun and we need the waves to be consistently over 12 foot for it to run. Unfortunately, it just wasn’t big enough. Geez, everyone got some amazing waves that day, though.”

The Bells Beach 50-Year Storm Invitational is an event conceptualised by friends in honour of local surfer Shaun Brooks, a former World Junior and Victorian Open champion. Shaun was a pioneer of big wave surfing in the region, who tragically took his own life in 2012 after a long battle with mental illness.

“Our family was stoked that everyone took time out and came together this year,” Shaun’s younger brother Troy (who is also an invitee for the 50-Year Storm) said.

“Even though the event didn’t run, that day was electric in the water and the camaraderie was really what this is all about – having fun, looking out for each other and enjoying each other’s company in amazing conditions.

“Shaun was always at home in big waves and especially loved Bells Beach, so to justify that we needed the real swell to have hit, but it just didn’t quite happen.”

The event also raises money for charities One in Five and headspace.

The 50-Year Storm will return in 2019, with the field to be redrawn via a public vote.