50 Year Storm called a no-go for 2024

FOR the seventh time in its eight-year history, the Bells Beach 50 Year Storm surfing event will be postponed, with the hope bigger swells will hit in 2025.

A lack of swell during the waiting period from June 1 to July 1 and August 1\to August 20 forced the committee to deem there were no waves of consequence to run the event.

Under the criteria for the event, the swell needs to be in the overhead range with predominantly offshore winds for most of the day, conditions that have only occurred once, in 2021.

The surfing classic promised to bring 40 of the best big wave surfers from across the country to pay tribute to local surfing icon Shaun Brooks, while acknowledging the prevalence of mental health in our society.

Committee member Andrew Flitton said it was disappointing to not run this year.

“In terms of the swell, it just wasn’t there again this time round.

“It seems like we used to have more opportunities to run in terms of the waves, but it just hasn’t come the last few years.

“The way the surf has been, the 50 days or so just hasn’t been enough to get some conditions worth running in.”

Due to permit conditions, the Bells Beach 50 Year Storm cannot run 10 days either side of an already permitted event.

The event had some of its usual waiting period cut (July 1-31) due to the Bells Beach Longboard Classic and also lost eleven days in the usual waiting period (August 20-31) because of Torquay Boardriders’ permitted Hells Djarrak event tomorrow (Saturday, August 31).

Flitton said the Bells Beach 50 Year Storm event will definitely be back in 2025.

“We’ve spoken to Surfing Victoria about perhaps extending the waiting period, which could be beneficial.

“We’ve got the artwork made up, and will get the ball rolling with everything else as it all comes.”

To stay updated on the Bells Beach 50 Year Storm event, head to instagram.com/bellsbeach50yearstorm.