Skis the key to a smooth Bells event

MANY can only dream of watching the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach from the water, yet only a select few people get to experience the thrill.

For the water safety team at the event, it’s a feeling they take in their stride; a front row view of the world’s best up close in action.

Water safety operations manager Cahill Bell-Warren and his team are ready to go for another bumper event this year.

His nine-person team will be responsible for keeping the surfers safe and improving the spectacle for those watching live and at home.

The jet skis will transport surfers from the inside of Bells Beach to the outside bank, cutting down paddling time and increasing the real surfing action.

Bell-Warren said the skis played an important role in the event running smoothly.

“If you get caught on the inside, it can be a seven-, eight- or nine-minute paddle back out at Bells.

“If it’s a 30-minute heat, the ski can provide surfers with another two or three waves a heat at least.

“They [the skis] allow surfers to be fresh and mobile to move to catch the wave you need.

“It’s a surfing competition, and we want to see surfing. The consumable product is more waves and more drama on the end section.”

 

Bell-Warren has managed water safety at the Pro for eight years.

Directly under him is team captain Glyndyn Ringrose, who manages all the ski drivers day-to-day on the water.

“Ringa led the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and he’s driven skis all around the world. There is no calmer man under pressure than him, and it really permeates through the team,” Bell-Warren said.

“The team is picked on guys who are very experienced ski drivers, and those with an intimate knowledge of Bells.

“It [the position] requires quite a calm mannered patient person. It’s about consistency not speed.”

While the role can sometimes be scary, it is one that is incredibly rewarding and much appreciated by the surfers.

“There’s the aspect of everyone cheering for your demise as your punching through the shore break, or picking up elite surfers in high pressure situations,” Bell-Warren said.

“However, the surfers are really good. They know you’re chopping them out pretty hard and are giving them a better opportunity to perform.”

Bell-Warren said his most memorable experience on the ski was picking up Italo Ferreira during the 2019 Rip Curl Pro.

“[The surf] was about eight foot and onshore. He was on the rocks down at Winki and I was up to go get him.

“I got him on the ski right there on the rocks, and we probably didn’t get into clear ocean into we were past Boobs!

“On the way back, he was asking whether the heat was still on, what the scores were and so on.

“I was able to radio for an update and he was just telling me to go go go to get back. It was a crazy memorable experience.”