Huxtable stuns Robson at Bells Beach, prepares for Ferreira face-off

Xavier Huxtable will face Italo Ferreira, seen here during an expression session today, in round 2 of the 2026 Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach. Photo: Ed Sloane/World Surf League.

Jan Juc surfer Xavier Huxtable is riding his luck in the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach, defeating Championship Tour (CT) surfer Callum Robson today to move into the second round.

With a building swell at Bells Beach, the competition was placed on hold until the tide became more favourable for the onshore winds and four to five foot of swell.

The 5pm start meant only the four heats of men’s round 1 were completed, with no women’s competition today.

As competition began, a new CT format made its debut. Featuring elimination scenarios in every heat, high stakes are placed on every competitor from the start of the event.

Huxtable scored the first decent wave of his heat, a 6.17 ride. Robson answered with a 6.47 wave but the wildcard winner upped the challenge again with a 6.77, which Robson could not surpass as the heat ended.

Huxtable will now face Olympic gold medallist and 2018 Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach winner Italo Ferreira in round 2.

In other results so far from round 1, Mateus Herdy defeated Liam O’Brien, Luke Thompson defeated Ramzi Boukhiam, and Dane Henry defeated Oscar Berry.

The next call at Bells Beach will be tomorrow at 7.20am.