Rip Curl stoked at Pro’s return to Bells

RIP CURL is stoked Bells Beach will resume hosting the Rip Curl Pro, and chief brand and marketing officer Neil Ridgway says “ringing the bell” is as important to surfers now as it has ever been.

In its 59th year of competition in 2022, the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach – to run from April 10-20 – will open the Australian leg of the World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour (CT) for the first time in more than two decades.

The WSL cancelled the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but WSL, Rip Curl and the Victorian Government signed an agreement earlier in 2021 to lock in the event at Bells Beach for at least the next three years.

“It’s a great thing for the town,” Mr Ridgway said.

“I think it’ll be a real injection of fun and life back into the place, to having something we can all enjoy, to have the world’s best come again, get out there to the bowl, hopefully have a really good swell and everybody cheering – it’ll be a real panacea.”

Mr Ridgway said Rip Curl did not want the event moved away from Bells Beach in 2021, but the resulting “Aussie quaddie” of a four-stop CT leg was a good outcome for the sport and for Australia.

“What they did in terms of world sport, to run four events without any COVID impact, was amazing, but it doesn’t compare to Bells for us.

“When the Rip Curl Pro’s running here, it’s really what we love, it’s one of the things we love the most, it’s about the only sacred cow we’ve got.

“Anything else can change, but we’re not walking away from Bells and we’re really happy it’s going to come back.”

This year’s CT season will also feature a mid-year cut for the first time.

Starting with 36 men and 18 women, the field will be reduced to reduced to 22 men and 10 women after the Margaret River event on April 24-May 4 (which is the next stop after the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach).

The top-ranked surfers will continue to the second half of the tour (plus two men’s and two women’s wildcards) and automatically requalify for the 2023 CT.

Mr Ridgway said the events before the mid-season cut should not be regarded as qualifiers for the “main game” as smart surfers would be trying their hardest to win at Bells Beach.

“If you win the Rip Curl Pro, in a form guide sense, it’s ‘Oh, this guy or girl, they’re on their way’. It’s a really clear marker.

“Notwithstanding the trophy itself; surfers love the bell. If you get a bell, it’s a pretty special thing.”

Surf Coast Shire mayor Libby Stapleton said Bells Beach at Easter was like the AFL Grand Final in September or Test cricket on Boxing Day.

“It’s more than just a sporting event, it’s part of our identity, and while the cancellation was understandable and necessary, we are very glad to welcome the Rip Curl Pro back home for 2022.”