Frankly, this is about all we know: Australian Mick Fanning won his fourth apparel sponsored event at Bells, and Clarissa Moore won her third consecutive. If we had anything else to say that would be written right here. But it’s not. So, if you’d like to read a certain privately owned entertainment company’s event and online streaming production notes from this latest commercial shoot at Bells, please follow the jump.
BELLS BEACH, Victoria/Australia (Thursday, April 9, 2015) – Mick Fanning (AUS) has won the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach after battling 2013 Bells Beach winner Adriano de Souza (BRA) for the right to ring the Bell. Finals Day at the 54th anniversary of the event saw conditions clean up for the 35-minute bout while the two Bells champions delivered the closest Final in Championship Tour (CT) history.
Victory for Fanning today means that he is tied with Kelly Slater (USA) and Mark Richards (AUS) with four Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach wins each, the most in the event’s history. Fanning first won in 2001 as a wildcard and then again in 2012 and 2014. The three-time World Champion also ties with Andy Irons (HAW), who both have 20 CT event wins.
“I’d never put myself in a category with MR (Mark Richards), Kelly Slater and Andy Irons,” said Fanning. “Those guys are my heroes. MR is a god, Kelly is a king and Andy is forever, it’s awesome.”
The first ever tiebreak Final puts Fanning on a path to his fourth World Title and he will take the gold leader jersey going into the third event on the Samsung Galaxy World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour (CT) in Margaret River. Today’s match-up was the pair’s tenth in CT history, including three at Bells Beach, and Fanning has taken seven wins while De Souza has three.
“Bells is a special place for me and it’s the first event I ever came to as a kid. The support and the crowds here are always amazing,” said Fanning. “Every time I paddle out I just want to do my best, throw myself into it and not have any regrets. You have to take it heat by heat because you never know what’s going to happen next. Every year on this Tour we all give it our all and try to put on a good show.”
“Today is the first time a CT Final has ever been tied, which is radical. As elating as the win is for me I know it’s heartbreaking for Adriano,” continued Fanning. “He’s such a top bloke and he throws his heart into everything and he trains so hard. He’s the elder statesman for the Brazilian storm and he does an impeccable job at leading them.”
De Souza was first take a wave in the Final for a small score, backing it up with 20 minutes remaining to put the pressure on and leave Fanning scoreless. The Australian went down on his first ride and De Souza quickly capitalized on the mistake by unleashing big turns for a 7.50 and a 13.83 heat total. Fanning came back with an impressive layback hack, clean rail work and a series of critical turns for an excellent 8.17, putting him back in contention. Another wave with ten minutes remaining saw Fanning claim the lead with a 7.10.
De Souza, the only Brazilian male to ring the bell, continued to demonstrate smooth, seamless surfing, searching for a 7.78 to take back the top spot. He was awarded 7.77 leaving the pair tied with 15.27 each. In a tiebreak situation the highest single-wave score wins the heat, which was Fanning’s 8.17. With less than two minutes remaining De Souza couldn’t find the score he needed and leaves Bells Beach with a second-place finish, 8,000 points and moves up to third place on the WSL rankings.
“It’s a dream come true to make a Final here at Bells,” said De Souza. “This is such an amazing place for me and it was so special to put my name on this trophy in 2013. Every time I come here it’s a special experience.”
“Mick really deserved to be number no. 1,” continued De Souza. “Thanks so much to everyone back home and everyone who came down to the beach to support us. Thanks to Rip Curl and WSL for putting on another big event and see you next year.”
After a runner-up finish at Bells Beach in 2013, Nat Young (USA) fell one heat short of equalling his best Bells result after being defeated by eventual winner Fanning in Semifinal number two. Young moves on to Margaret River in equal sixth place on the rankings where he will be looking for another solid result.
“Mick (Fanning) is probably my favorite athlete in the world so it’s always good to compete against him,” Young said. “Last year I was in a bit of a slump and overthinking things and didn’t do so great. So now it feels good to build some momentum heading into Margaret River.”
In the Quarterfinals reigning WSL Champion Gabriel Medina (BRA) was defeated by runner-up De Souza (BRA). The win for De Souza sees him remain undefeated against Medina on the CT with six wins. Medina will move into the next event as world no. 9.
“That was a tough heat, there weren’t that many waves and it’s always hard to surf against Adriano (de Souza),” said Medina. “I wish I could have had some better waves but I’m feeling good. Margarets is such a good wave and I think it’s better than here so I’m looking for a good result over there. There’s only been two events so far and today is a good result for me. I hope that continues and I can fight for the title at the end of the year.”
Filipe Toledo (BRA) now shares the rating’s lead with Fanning after he was also eliminated in the Quarterfinals by Young. The result matches Toledo’s best here at Bells Beach, having previously earned a fifth-place finish in 2013.
“It was a really tough one against Nat (Young) and he’s been surfing really good,” said Toledo. “I’m still happy and this is a really good result and a keeper for me for the rest of the year. I had a couple of mistakes out there with priority and I should have tried some maneuvers. I’m happy though and looking for another good result at Margarets. I’m stoked and thank you to everyone who’s been supporting me.”
Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach Final Results:
1: Mick Fanning (AUS) – 15.27 (Fanning wins with the heat’s highest single-wave score, 8.17)
2: Adriano de Souza (BRA) – 15.27
Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach Semifinal Results:
SF 1: Adriano de Souza (BRA) 14.84 def. Josh Kerr (AUS) 9.87
SF 2: Mick Fanning (AUS) 16.70 def. Nat Young (USA) 14.23
Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach Quarterfinal Results:
QF 1: Adriano de Souza (BRA) 11.60 def. Gabriel Medina (BRA) 8.33
QF 2: Josh Kerr (AUS) 13.00 def. Owen Wright (AUS) 7.93
QF 3: Mick Fanning (AUS) 17.76 def. Jordy Smith (ZAF) 15.60
QF 4: Nat Young (USA) 15.10 def. Filipe Toledo (BRA) 13.86
BELLS BEACH, Victoria/Australia (Friday, April 10, 2015) – Carissa Moore (HAW) has won the Rip Curl Women’s Pro Bells Beach after battling Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) in the Final for the right to ring the Bell. Victory for the two-time world champion today sees her take three consecutive Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach titles and become the first female surfer in Championship Tour (CT) history to achieve this feat. Moore defeated Tyler Wright (AUS) in both 2013 and 2014 for her prior wins.
Moore and Gilmore have previously had 20 CT heats together, with 10 wins apiece until Moore took the edge today following their 21st match-up. Most recently the pair faced off in the Final at Snapper Rocks, where Moore took victory and claimed the first CT win of 2015.
“It’s such an honor, I love coming down here and it’s such a magical place,” Moore said. “It’s just been such a beautiful experience and I feel super blessed. It’s challenging not only to regroup after a win, but you’re also competing against the best in the world so you really have to be in tip top shape.”
Today’s win is Moore’s third CT victory in a row after triumphing in Maui last season and on the Gold Coast at the start of 2015, and sees her hold on to the Jeep leader jersey heading into the third event on the Samsung Galaxy World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour (CT) in Margaret River.
“I’m just stoked I got to continue my momentum here,” continued Moore. “It’s a long year, there has only been two contests so far and I know that all of the girls are fired up and they want it really bad. Everyone is going to be surfing their best. I’m just living in the moment and I’m just so glad to be here spending it with all of you, so thank you.”
Gilmore opened up strong in the Final, posting an excellent 8.77 for typically smooth and concise surfing, linking together a series of turns and backing it up with a 4.50 for the initial lead. The Hawaiian fought back with an 8.00 of her own to turn the heat and claim the lead, holding priority through the closing minutes and taking the win with just two waves ridden.
Gilmore, the reigning WSL Champion, has rung the Bell three times. First she went back-to-back in 2007 and 2008, facing Sofia Mulanovich on both occasions. The pair matched up again in the Final in 2010 and Gilmore took the win. The runner-up finish for Gilmore today, her second of the year, sees her remain in second place on the rankings.
“Every single year it gets harder and harder to win these events,” Gilmore said. “It’s a real testament to all the girls on tour and just how much work and time they put out in the surf. I’m really proud to make it to the Final.”
“Carissa is always a tough one to beat,” continued Gilmore. “We have had a great battle for the world title the last few years and every single heat with her is hard. Thanks everyone for coming to watch. I love this event, I love coming down here, rugging up and trying to ring the bell.”
Semifinal 1 saw Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) eliminated at the hands of eventual event winner Moore. The pair have previously matched up five times at Bells Beach with Fitzgibbons taking four wins to Moore’s one. An excellent 9.17 from Moore was too much for the Australian to overcome and she leaves in equal third place. The two-time Bells Beach winner, Fitzgibbons, moves up to equal ninth on the WSL rankings ahead of the start of Margaret River next week.
“It’s hard to wash away the disappointment right away,” Fitzgibbons said. “Carissa (Moore) and I always get fired up for a good battle, but there were limited opportunities out there and she made the most of it. I’m happy to improve on my result from Snapper so I just need to keep the roll going and go one better at Margaret River next week.”
Courtney Conlogue (USA) faced reigning WSL Champion Gilmore in the second Semifinal. An early 9.23 from Conlogue put her in a strong lead, but without a back-up score Gilmore took the top spot. The American was left needing just a 3.44 but struggled to find the score in the tricky conditions. With six minutes left on the clock Conlogue took a wave under Gilmore’s priority for a solid 7.00 and the lead. The world champion took an uncharacteristic fall but followed up quickly with another medium-sized wave under Conlogue’s priority for an excellent 9.50 and a last-minute victory. Conlogue will move on to the next event as equal world no. 3.
“Last year I got injured at this event and it was a bummer,” Conlogue said. “If I’m being optimistic I’m happy that one year later I’m back here and finishing third but I’m frustrated because I really wanted to make the Final. I’ll just have to take that anger and frustration out at Margaret River. Hopefully the waves over there will be able to hold up.”
Rip Curl Women’s Pro Bells Beach Final Results:
1: Carissa Moore (HAW) – 14.00
2: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) – 13.27
Rip Curl Women’s Pro Bells Beach Semifinal Results:
SF 1: Carissa Moore (HAW) 15.50 def. Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 13.40
SF 2: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 16.50 def. Courtney Conlogue (USA) 16.23
Rip Curl Women’s Pro Bells Beach Quarterfinal Results:
QF 1: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 13.50 def. Lakey Peterson (USA) 10.60
QF 2: Carissa Moore (HAW) 16.37 def. Johanne Defay (FRA) 8.23
QF 3: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 15.34 def. Tyler Wright (AUS) 13.77
QF 4: Courtney Conlogue (USA) 15.56 def. Coco Ho (HAW) 15.17
