21-04-2025
Conditions keep Bells Beach surfing on hold again
The wait for waves continues at Bells Beach with the Rip Curl Pro remaining on hold for a third successive day.
World Surf League officials delayed an initial call early on Easter Monday in the hope the swell would increase but onshore wind and inconsistent waves forced another postponement.
"Once again, we have done a couple of calls this morning but have had to call the event off," said WSL deputy commissioner Renato Hickel.
"We were hoping the lower tide would improve things, but we still have a small swell, and today we have onshore unfavourable winds.
"The good news is that from tomorrow onwards, we have some solid swell, so we are anticipating we will get underway tomorrow with some solid surf despite some less than ideal winds."
Only one heat of the men's opening round has been completed, won by in-form American Crosby Colapinto.
Sydney sensation George Pittar will be the first Australian into the water when competition resumes, drawn in heat three against South African Jordy Smith and Brazil's Edgard Groggia.
Veteran Smith won at the last tour stop in El Salvador earlier this month and lifted the iconic Bells Beach trophy in 2017.
Australia's top-ranked male, Ethan Ewing, will begin his Victorian campaign in heat five against countryman Morgan Cibilic and Hawaii's Seth Moniz.
Ewing is currently sitting second in the standings behind Brazil's Italo Ferreira.
The first round of the women's event was held on Friday with Australia's two-time Bells Beach champion Tyler Wright and fellow Australians Molly Picklum, El Salvador runner-up Isabella Nichols and Sally Fitzgibbons among those to progress.
