The Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach Presented by Bonsoy, Stop No. 5 of the 2025 World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour (CT), recommenced today in chunky, wind-affected surf on the Bells Bowl. Competitors in the men’s Opening Round, along with the women’s and men’s Elimination Rounds, put on a show in the bumpy four-to-six-foot surf on the fifth day of the window.
Alan Cleland Jr. and Italo Ferreira Lead The Way in Men’s Opening Round
Fresh off his equal-best career result at the CT level, Alan Cleland Jr. (MEX) has put on a solid opening-round performance to book a spot in the Round of 32. Cleland came up against 2022 Bells winner and two-time World Champion Filipe Toledo (AUS), as well as CT Rookie Joel Vaughan (AUS), and made his intentions clear from the start, posting a 7.00 point ride on his first wave. He then backed it up with an excellent 8.17 with three super committed, critical turns, leaving him to end the heat with a 15.00 point two-wave total (out of a possible 20), the second-highest of the men’s Opening Round.
“Surfing against Joel [Vaughan], he’s one of my best friends, and then surfing against [Filipe] Toledo, he’s one of the best in the world, so I was super excited to get in the water,” Cleland said. “We’ve been waiting a couple of days, and the waves have been small. Luckily enough, the swell picked up, and it’s a bit windy, but the waves are super fun, and I’m just stoked to get a couple out there. I love this place, hanging out with all the locals. I went to a footy game last night. It’s just been rad. I’m stoked to be here and stoked to get some waves. I’m grateful for every opportunity. I’m grateful to wake up every morning and go surf. It’s such a good sport, and I’m just happy to do what I do. You just can’t ask for more when there are waves.”
2018 Bells winner and current World No. 1 Italo Ferreira (AUS) came out firing in Heat 6 of the men’s Opening Round, delivering both the highest single-wave score and heat total of the day. Looking in top form, Ferreira attacked one of the bigger sets with power and precision, earning a 7.17 before locking in an impressive 8.15 to secure his win. Local wildcard Xavier Huxtable (AUS) also progressed to the Round of 32 with a solid performance. Ferreira’s backhand looked ominous as he blasted massive turns on solid sections, remaining fans of his capabilities in the bigger sets.
“That was a great heat, I tried to find the good walls,” Ferreira said. “I know there are a lot of opportunities there, but it’s kind of hard to find the best ones. I was lucky that I had a good opportunity in the beginning to score 7 points, and then after that, 8 points on the other one. It’s always fun competing at Bells, I always feel excited to find a good wall and go hard, and I’m stoked.”
Ramzi Boukhiam Suffers Knee Injury and Withdraws From Event
At the end of Heat 6, an exchange between Ramzi Boukhiam (MAR) and Xavier Huxtable (AUS) saw the pair waiting on the shoreline to hear scores and see who would be sent to the Elimination Round. As Boukhiam waited in shallow water on the rock shelf, his leg slipped into a hole, and a wave pushed him forward, causing an injury to his knee that required him to be carried off the beach by an ATV. After the initial assessment, Boukhiam withdrew from the event as he would be unable to surf his Elimination Round heat. He went to the hospital for further scans and assessment, and WSL will have an update on his condition soon.
Event Hopefuls Bounce Back in Elimination Round
Bettylou Sakura Johnson (HAW) bounced back from a disappointing Opening Round heat with an emphatic performance in the Elimination Round at Bells to overcome Olympians Nadia Erostarbe (ESP) and Vahine Fierro (FRA). Sakura Johnson looked right at home in the Bells Bowl, carving and punching her way to an 11.84 two-wave total to progress with Erostrabe, while Fierro was eliminated in equal 17th place.
“It’s always frustrating to end up in the Elimination Round,” Sakura Johnson said. “But, I think I needed that, I think I needed another shot out here at Bells just to get on top of a few things. It’s always interesting coming up against rookies because you don’t really know what to expect at a new location, so I’m happy to have performed and find a bit of a rhythm out here. I know it’s a wave I could do well at.”
In the last two years, Matthew McGillivray (RSA) has finished in fifth and third place here at Bells, and given his runner-up finish at El Salvador just a week ago, it was a shock to see him in the Elimination Round today. The South African got his 2025 Bells campaign back on track in Heat 1 of the Elimination Round, posting a 14.57 two-wave total to claim an impressive win over Jackson Bunch (HAW) and Edgard Groggia (BRA). McGillivray’s fins-free explosive approach made for one of the most exciting performances of the day. McGillivray will take on Griffin Colapinto (USA) in the Round of 32 when the competition resumes.
“The Elimination Round is pretty stressful,” McGillivray said. “I didn’t get a good start in my Opening Round Heat, which just threw me off and had me waiting a lot of minutes. Coming into that heat, I really wanted to get a good start and a quick one. I seem to get good momentum when I get a couple of waves early, and there were plenty of waves in the heat, so we all had a lot of opportunity, which was good. It will be fun to match up with Griffin again. He’s such a gnarly competitor and someone that inspires me and pushes me, so it will be great to come up against him.”
Marco Mignot (FRA) and Seth Moniz (HAW) were able to sneak through their elimination round heat to defeat Deivid Silva (BRA), who was eliminated in equal 33rd place. It was one of the tightest heats, with less than 1.50 points separating all three surfers.
The last heat of the day saw Brazilian trio João Chianca (BRA), Alejo Muniz (BRA), and Ian Gouveia (BRA) fight for a spot in the Round of 32. Muniz looked to find a groove at Bells to take the win while Chianca progressed in second place, leaving Gouveia to be eliminated and now shift his focus to the Gold Coast.
Caitlin Simmers and Barron Mamiya Make the Mid-season Cut
With today’s results, Caity Simmers (USA) and Barron Mamiya (HAW) have each secured their spot on the CT beyond the Mid-season Cut as they progress into the Round of 16 and Round of 32, respectively.
Mixed Results For Event Wildcards on Second Day of Competition
Rip Curl Trials Winner Morgan Cibilic (AUS) showed some of the form that saw him finish No. 5 in the world back in 2021 as he posted a two-wave total of 14.06 to overcome Bells standout Ethan Ewing (AUS). Cibilic’s speed and finesse on the rail were on point and saw him book a spot in the Round of 32 along with Ewing, while their opponent, Seth Moniz (HAW), contested the Elimination Round and was able to progress into the Round of 32.
“It’s always good to come back down to Bells, it’s so nice down here, I love it,” Cibilic said. “I know we haven’t had amazing waves yet, but it looks like it’s going to get fun throughout the contest, so I’m stoked just to be here. Pushing yourself here [at Bells] with the world’s best, there’s nothing better than that to get you ready for the year ahead. Hopefully, I can go deep in this event and set myself up for a good year this year.”
Victorian Trials Winners Xavier Huxtable (AUS) and Carly Shanahan (AUS) had mixed results for the local crowd. Huxtable progressed into the Round of 32, while Shanahan was defeated by Olympic Gold Medalist and 2023 World Champion Caroline Marks (USA), and World Junior Champion Luana Silva (BRA), who was in searing form in the Elimination Round.
Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach Men’s Opening Round Results:
HEAT 1: Crosby Colapinto (USA) 12.84 DEF. Rio Waida (INA) 10.20, Imaikalani deVault (HAW) 8.07
HEAT 2: Samuel Pupo (BRA) 12.00 DEF. Barron Mamiya (HAW) 8.20, Joao Chianca (BRA) 7.77
HEAT 3: Jordy Smith (RSA) 12.54 DEF. George Pittar (AUS) 10.77, Edgard Groggia (BRA) 8.87
HEAT 4: Ian Gentil (HAW) 13.07 DEF. Yago Dora (BRA) 10.13, Ian Gouveia (BRA) 9.90
HEAT 5: Morgan Cibilic (AUS) 14.06 DEF. Ethan Ewing (AUS) 12.97, Seth Moniz (HAW) 8.67
HEAT 6: Italo Ferreira (BRA) 15.67 DEF. Xavier Huxtable (AUS) 11.44, Ramzi Boukhiam (MAR) 11.00
HEAT 7: Jack Robinson (AUS) 12.93 DEF. Ryan Callinan (AUS) 12.56, Marco Mignot (FRA) 11.23
HEAT 8: Connor O’Leary (JPN) 10.76 DEF. Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA) 9.16, Deivid Silva (BRA) 8.70
HEAT 9: Jake Marshall (USA) 13.80 DEF. Miguel Pupo (BRA) 10.53, Alejo Muniz (BRA) 9.43
HEAT 10: Alan Cleland (MEX) 15.00 DEF. Filipe Toledo (BRA) 10.34, Joel Vaughan (AUS) 7.67
HEAT 11: Kanoa Igarashi (JPN) 13.37 DEF. Griffin Colapinto (USA) 10.33, Jackson Bunch (HAW) 8.67
HEAT 12: Cole Houshmand (USA) 10.33 DEF. Liam O’Brien (AUS) 10.33, Matthew McGillivray (RSA) 9.46
Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach Men’s Elimination Round Results:
HEAT 1: Matthew McGillivray (RSA) 14.53 DEF. Jackson Bunch (HAW) 12.97, Edgard Groggia (BRA) 10.50
HEAT 2: Joel Vaughan (AUS) DEF. Imaikalani deVault (HAW) , Ramzi Boukhiam (MAR) INJ
HEAT 3: Marco Mignot (FRA) 10.67 DEF. Seth Moniz (HAW) 10.60, Deivid Silva (BRA) 10.53
HEAT 4: Alejo Muniz (BRA) 11.63 DEF. Joao Chianca (BRA) 10.00, Ian Gouveia (BRA) 9.44
Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach Men’s Round of 32 Matchups:
HEAT 1: Ethan Ewing (AUS) vs. Ryan Callinan (AUS)
HEAT 2: Connor O’Leary (JPN) vs. Marco Mignot (FRA)
HEAT 3: Kanoa Igarashi (JPN) vs. Liam O’Brien (AUS)
HEAT 4: Miguel Pupo (BRA) vs. Seth Moniz (HAW)
HEAT 5: Jordy Smith (RSA) vs. Imaikalani deVault (HAW)
HEAT 6: Crosby Colapinto (USA) vs. Joel Vaughan (AUS)
HEAT 7: Cole Houshmand (USA) vs. Morgan Cibilic (AUS)
HEAT 8: Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA) vs. Alan Cleland (MEX)
HEAT 9: Italo Ferreira (BRA) vs. Xavier Huxtable (AUS)
HEAT 10: Matthew McGillivray (RSA) vs. Griffin Colapinto (USA)
HEAT 11: Rio Waida (INA) vs. Samuel Pupo (BRA)
HEAT 12: Barron Mamiya (HAW) vs. Ian Gentil (HAW)
HEAT 13: Yago Dora (BRA) vs. Alejo Muniz (BRA)
HEAT 14: Jake Marshall (USA) vs. Joao Chianca (BRA)
HEAT 15: Filipe Toledo (BRA) vs. George Pittar (AUS)
HEAT 16: Jack Robinson (AUS) vs. Jackson Bunch (HAW)
Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach Women’s Elimination Round Results:
HEAT 1: Luana Silva (BRA) 11.00 DEF. Caroline Marks (USA) 8.93, Carly Shanahan (AUS) 5.83
HEAT 2: Bettylou Sakura Johnson (HAW) 11.84 DEF. Nadia Erostarbe (ESP) 8.00, Vahine Fierro (FRA) 7.80
Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach Women’s Round of 16 Matchups:
HEAT 1: Molly Picklum (AUS) vs. Luana Silva (BRA)
HEAT 2: Sawyer Lindblad (USA) vs. Lakey Peterson (USA)
HEAT 3: Caitlin Simmers (USA) vs. Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS)
HEAT 4: Bella Kenworthy (USA) vs. Brisa Hennessy (CRC)
HEAT 5: Gabriela Bryan (HAW) vs. Nadia Erostarbe (ESP)
HEAT 6: Isabella Nichols (AUS) vs. Erin Brooks (CAN)
HEAT 7: Caroline Marks (USA) vs. Bettylou Sakura Johnson (HAW)
HEAT 8: Tyler Wright (AUS) vs. Ellie Harrison (AUS)
