Bells’ bad luck strikes again for 50 Year Storm event

BAD LUCK has once again plagued the Bells Beach 50 Year Storm surfing invitational event and forced its postponement for the sixth time in its seven-year history.

The final buzzer officially sounded on the event waiting period earlier this week (July 31), with a promising pre-winter wave bonanza unfortunately not hanging around as hoped throughout the June-July event window.

The surfing event would have brought together 40 of the best male and female big wave surfers from across the country for a day of social connection and mental health awareness, while remembering local surfing champion Shaun Brooks.

Current criteria for the event, sees the swell need to be overheard and big in size, while winds and tides must also be desirable for most of the day.

Bells Beach 50 Year Storm committee member Carlo Lowden said it was unfortunate conditions didn’t align in 2023.

“It’s a real bummer, because it was looking so promising before winter started and then it’s just not gotten as big as we had wanted.

“We had really hoped for one of those big and perfect days, but we didn’t get one of those.

“There was plenty of good days, but none of them were great, which is what we obviously want for such a prestigious event.

“You’ve got to have all the dots line up and unfortunately it just hasn’t this year.”

While the physical event won’t be occurring in 2023, Mr Lowden said surfers and community members should stay tuned for some exciting announcements in the future.

For more, head to instagram.com/bellsbeach50yearstorm