RIP CURL PRO 2011

The 2011 Rip Curl Pro wheel begins to turn.

Mainstream media mingle with surf media all hoping to get a scoop!

10 time World Champ gives everyone something to think about .

If losing your heat isn't bad enough. You then face a long lonely climb to waiting media.

Gromets get fun size Rincon to show their wares.

View from the video tower. Aint too shabby!

:) :( What's goin' on here??

Blue Steel's got nothin' on Coolangatta Gold!

50 YEARS IN THE MAKING

The longest continuous running contest in the world

“Bells Beach Rally”/Rip Curl Pro, considered to be one of the most
prestigious events to win on the World Tour celebrates
it's 50th anniversary this Easter and the crew at Rip Curl are gearing up for a big one.

The event started way back in 1961 as the “Bells Beach Rally”.

Ad for event ran in Australian Surfer magazine- artwork by Spurter's dad - Knuckles

The first Rip Curl Pro Easter 1973, with surfers competing for cash prizes which amounted to little more than their petrol and living expenses, and considerably less than their airfares! But the contest, won by the legendary Michael Peterson, set the wheels of the
professional train in motion.

1973 Event poster.

1973 Bells Beach.

With the likes of MP, MR, Occy, Sunny, Lisa Anderson and co all in town, Torquay will be packed with surfing's greatest legends.
Rumours are bubbling about potential “legends” surf off, surfing original boards.
Multi-award winning author Michael Gordon will be releasing a hard cover coffee table book titled “Bells”
The whisper is the 2011 contest site is in for complete design makeover.

MEMORABLE MOMENTS

1962 - The “Bells Beach Rally” was originally scheduled to run Dec 31st 1961 but was changed at the last minute to the Australia Day weekend January ‘62 so as not to clash with a Torquay SLSC event. Winner Glynn Ritchie (NSW)

1965 - The swell peaked at almost 20 feet. Winner - Robert Conneeley (NSW)

70’s - Hawaii’s Reno Abellira surfing in a wetsuit with flared legs.

1977 - Simon Anderson (NSW) wins Quiksilver Trials & Rip Curl Pro

1981 - With the swell reminiscent of ’65 Surfer/shaper Simon Anderson wins on his new “Thruster” design surfboard.

1983 - Joe Engel (QLD) wins Quiksilver Trials & Rip Curl Pro
1992 - Richie Collins (USA) Had God on his side wins event on his way to GeelongHospital.After injuring his back during the final Collins made his way to the beach and off to hospital leaving Martin Potter alone in the Rincon line up. The ocean went flat for the remainder of the heat. Collins had amassed enough points before his exit to secure the win.
2009 - Adam Robertson the most successful Victorian surfer. Wins the trials and places 2nd to Joel Parkinson in the main event.

OTHER STUFF

Most Rip Curl Pro wins.
Women: Lisa Anderson four Rip Curl Pro wins. 1990, 1992, 1995,1997.
Mens: Mark Richards four Rip Curl Pro wins. 1978, 1979, 1980, 1982.
Kelly Slater four Rip Curl Pro wins. 1994, 2006, 2008, 2010.

MORE OTHER STUFF

1961 - Soviets build wall dividing East and West Berlin. "Barbie" doll hooks up with "Ken" doll. (Ken turns 50 this year)
1973 - The Elvis "Aloha Satellite Show" telecast from Honolulu - the most expensive entertainment special ever staged costing 2.5 million.(These days 2.5 mil would be just for the band rider)
Pink Floyd release "Dark side of the moon" album.
Marvin Gaye has a number one hit with "Lets get it on"

70's influenced 2011 Rip Curl Pro Mens and Womens event posters.

Thanks to Bob Smith "World Champion surfing historian"

WCT SEASON STARTER

QUIKSILVER PRO 2010

The start of the new WCT season came with great anticipation. Revised judging criteria, rewarding progressive surfing, new rating system, new faces and the usual hype surrounding new talent.

Bells may be regarded as the spiritual home of Australian competitive surfing, Queenslands, Snapper Rocks when it's firing, would have to be regarded, the best wave on the Australian leg of the World Tour. The long right hander is a blank canvas for spectacular surfing. Barrels, rail carving and aerial opportunities all present themselves. The perfect scenario to suit the current judging criteria.

While the waves for both events this year never really did meet great expectations, they were fair to reasonable.

This didn't detract from the performance level as new and old faces barrelled, hacked and punted their way down the the line.

After a shakey first round start Taj Burrows proved to be the most consistent performer and went on to win.

Notable standout was Bobby Martinez from the U.S who's in-laws live on the Goldie. Martinez eventually fell to Burrows in the semis. The highly anticipated Jordy Smith V Dane Reynolds semi, fizzled out as Reynolds couldn't back up his Quarter final sizzling performance.

As for the hype surrounding the tour rookies, they were all eventually rolled by the end of round three. Owen Wright was the best OZ rookie performer.

There's nothing like experience at the end of the day, heh

ROXY PRO 2010

What can I say? I'm blown away by the level of performance by the girls. they're absolutely ripping.

Steph Gilmore continued her World Championship winning form and made it back to back Roxy Pro titles.

Steph Gilmore is a champion in every sense of the word.

WORLD CHAMP ON SURF COAST TO PARTY!

The crew at Rip Curl, don't need much of an excuse to throw a party, so when team riders Steph Gilmore and Mick Fanning recently won World Titles in Hawaii, it was all systems go!

On the roof top, the Rippy staff and guests partied, as the music cranked and the sweet taste of success flowed freely.

Fanning was off snowboarding after Hawaii, so the spotlight was focused entirely on consecutive, three times, World Champ, Steph Gilmore. Yeah!

The guest of honor, Steph Gilmore.

Sisters are doin' it for themselves. The Gilmore girls

Steph with Jesse Spencer from TV show HOUSE