LOCAL surfers have lost their bids for a wildcard entry to Easter’s Rip Curl Pro at Bells Beach.
Phillip Island’s Joe Van Dijk and France’s Pauline Ado claimed the men’s and women’s wildcards in clean one-metre surf at Bells today.
Jan Juc’s Cody Robinson narrowly went down to good mate Van Dijk after a seesawing encounter in the finals of the trials event.
Van Dijk, whose sister, Nikki, will compete in the women’s division of the Rip Curl Pro, was rapt with his opportunity to surf against the world’s best.
“The whole final was wave after wave. I found it hard not to go the little ones it was that good out there.”
“It was one of the best heats of my life and it was so good to surf it with Cody. We have known each other since we were so young, and we stay together a lot so it was awesome to have a final with him.
“It’s going to be so good to compete in the Rip Curl Pro with my sister. I’ve been watching her compete over the past few years and it is what I have been aspiring to do, it’s nice to get the chance to surf in the main event.”
Ado beat three Australians in her final, including Jan Juc’s Zoe Clarke, who finished fourth.
“I’m stoked to get into the event. Hopefully we get good waves like we did today,” Ado said.
The Rip Curl Pro waiting period starts Wednesday, with clean, small surf forecast.
