In a day marked by unexpected upsets, Australian surfer Tyler Wright displayed resilience and focus, securing her place in the quarter-finals of the Rip Curl Pro. Wright’s victory over local wildcard Ellie Harrison in the round of 16 was a standout performance, especially given that Harrison had previously knocked her out of last year’s event at the same stage.
Wright, a two-time world champion and Bells Beach standout, appeared to channel the frustration of last year’s early exit into a powerful performance, knowing the stakes. “I was mad last year. I was not happy. No, I remember,” Wright admitted after her win. “The best way to do that is go through scar tissue, massage it out, and that was the perfect opportunity for me out there.”
Having secured a spot in the quarter-finals, Wright will now face Hawaiian Bettylou Sakura Johnson, who holds a 2-0 record against the Australian. The most recent of those victories came when Johnson defeated Wright in the last event in El Salvador.
While Wright remains focused on her next heat, the day’s shockwaves were felt throughout the competition. The biggest upset came from fellow Australian Sally Fitzgibbons, who eliminated world No.1 Caitlin Simmers, the defending Rip Curl Pro champion. Fitzgibbons, who has struggled in recent years to maintain her position on the World Surf League (WSL) tour, secured a much-needed win, advancing to her first WSL quarter-final appearance in a year.
Fitzgibbons, also a two-time Bells Beach champion, reflected on the pressure she faced leading into the heat with Simmers. “The bones of it is the game hasn’t changed, but your ability to endure — there are going to be so many decisions that you make, that you have to wear… they hurt, they’re stingers,” Fitzgibbons said after her victory. “You process it properly, and when you paddle back out there, you just have a deep-seated belief that it can be your time, in any heat, in any given moment.”
Simmers’ loss meant that Hawaiian Gabriela Bryan, who triumphed in El Salvador, reclaimed the No.1 ranking, pushing Simmers to second. Bryan will face Australian Isabella Nichols in the quarter-finals, a rematch of their El Salvador final.
In another significant development, top Australian surfer Molly Picklum fell short in the round of 16, despite posting the highest wave score of her heat (7.67). Picklum was narrowly defeated by Brazilian junior world champion Luana Silva, who advanced with a total of 13.66 points to Picklum’s 12.64. Despite the setback, Picklum retained her No.3 spot in the rankings.
The day also saw intense action in the men’s competition. Australian Ethan Ewing, the 2023 Rip Curl Pro winner, made an early statement with an 8.83, the highest wave score among the men, to defeat compatriot Ryan Callinan. Ewing’s impressive performance reaffirmed his intent to defend his title.
Further upsets occurred in the men’s round of 32, with American defending champion Cole Houshmand eliminated by Australian trials winner Morgan Cibilic. Cibilic, a former world tour competitor, made a strong case for his return to the elite ranks. Australian Joel Vaughan also advanced with a victory over American Crosby Colapinto.
In other key heats, Japan’s Kanoa Igarashi edged out Australian Liam O’Brien, 16.10 to 14.33, while South Africa’s Jordy Smith and Hawaii’s Seth Moniz continued their strong runs with victories.
With clean three-to-four-foot conditions at the neighboring Winkipop break, the event moved smoothly forward, keeping the competition fierce and unpredictable.
As the event progresses, the focus now shifts to the quarter-finals, where both the men’s and women’s fields are wide open, and the battle for supremacy at Bells Beach intensifies.