![\"\"](\"https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/2025\/04\/parkinson_j8430bells_34148.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Bell-Warren has managed water safety at the Pro for eight years.<\/p>\n
Directly under him is team captain Glyndyn Ringrose, who manages all the ski drivers day-to-day on the water.<\/p>\n
“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.<\/p>\n
“The team is picked on guys who are very experienced ski drivers, and those with an intimate knowledge of Bells.<\/p>\n
“It [the position] requires quite a calm mannered patient person. It’s about consistency not speed.”<\/p>\n
While the role can sometimes be scary, it is one that is incredibly rewarding and much appreciated by the surfers.<\/p>\n
“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.<\/p>\n
“However, the surfers are really good. They know you’re chopping them out pretty hard and are giving them a better opportunity to perform.”<\/p>\n
Bell-Warren said his most memorable experience on the ski was picking up Italo Ferreira during the 2019 Rip Curl Pro.<\/p>\n
“[The surf] was about eight foot and onshore. He was on the rocks down at Winki and I was up to go get him.<\/p>\n
“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!<\/p>\n
“On the way back, he was asking whether the heat was still on, what the scores were and so on.<\/p>\n
“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.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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 […]<\/p>\n