Local commentator ready to make moment count

A JAN Juc local is ready to relish the huge opportunity he has to call all the action at the 2025 Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach.

18-year-old Finn Murphy will this week be helping to lead the beach commentary at the longest running competitive surfing event in the world.

Murphy has been commentating at Surfing Victoria events for the past three years and has slowly been making his way up the ranks.

Last year he was invited to join on the microphone and do a few heats at the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach, and impressed with his funny wit and strong insight.

He was then invited to complete beach commentary at the Bells Beach Longboard Classic in July.

Murphy, who is an avid lover of the sport, said he feels incredibly fortunate to have fallen into commentating.

“I love surfing myself, and working and doing it for a living is a pretty cool thing to intertwine.

“Getting to talk about something you love is pretty awesome, and getting a bit of cash for it is a bonus.”

He said commentating is all about finding good things to say when no action is happening out in the water.

“For me, it’s about picking apart the surfing condition and the surfers.

“When there’s no surfers up and riding, you essentially are wanting to have a conversation with yourself, and a conversation with those around you.

“Learning how to do that from older guys like Reggae Ellis and Sean Doherty at last year’s event has been really cool.”

Murphy said he’ll be pinching himself when he calls out the world’s best names during the event.

“I’m looking forward to it so much and am filled with so much excitement.

“Commentating guys like George Pittar out there, and also Jack Robinson and the exciting Aussie guys is going to be so cool.”

Murphy is tipping the event will go right down to the wire.

“I reckon Jordy Smith might go the distance if it’s really big waves, but Italo [Ferreira] is always one to watch out for too.

“In the women’s Caity Simmers has to be a bit of a favourite. She won it last year, and I think she could easily go back-to-back.”