Local pair surf with pride at Bells

TWO of the Bellarine’s top surfers represented the region with pride in the 2025 Bioglan Bells Beach Longboard Classic.

Ben Considine (Barwon Heads) and Bea Conroy (Point Lonsdale) both surfed against the world’s best surfers in the second event of the 2025 World Longboard Tour last week.

Conroy was able to surf her way into the Round of 16 where she went down to 2024 world champion Rachel Tilly in an entertaining affair.

 

On her way to her best ever result at Bells Beach, Conroy defeated Japanese surfer and last year’s event runner-up Natsumi Taoka.

Considine was unable to notch his way through the elimination round, however put on a fine display against 2023 world champion Kai Sallas.

The stylish, goofy footer utilised his backhand flow to finish second in his opening round heat in which he beat Portuguese surfer Antonio Dantas and came up narrowly short of Rogelio Jr Esquievel.

Considine said he was thrilled to be able to perform in front of his family and friends at Bells Beach.

 

“It’s always super special to be able to compete and mix it with the top guys in the world and I’m really grateful for that,” Considine said.

“It was really cool to see a bunch of the crew who I compete and surf with on the qualifying series do so well at Bells this year, with Max [Weston] taking the win and Declan [Wyton] doing really well.

“Having those guys perform so well at this year’s contest just gives me more motivation and drive to start cracking some of those results for myself.”

Last Sunday’s finals day saw Soleil Errico and Max Weston crowned overall champions.

 

The win marked a rare three-peat for Errico who has now won the event every year it has been held at Bells Beach.

For Weston, the victory was his first ever on the World Longboard Tour.

For more information and results from the Bells Beach Longboard Classic, head to worldsurfleague.com