ORGANISERS of the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach cancelled competition for 29 March due to heavy onshore winds and decreasing swell.
“There are still a few waves today, but the wind has really come up so we are going to be off for today,” WSL deputy commissioner Jessi Miley-Dyer said.
“We don’t need to be running in the howling onshore and smaller surf, so we are going to see what it looks like tomorrow.”
Event organisers will reconvene at 8am on Wednesday 30 March, to assess the conditions and make the next call.
Competition will resume with some exciting heavyweight match-ups in the men’s and women’s competitions.
Men’s round four will have a battle between current rankings leader Matt Wilkinson (AUS), Wiggolly Dantas (BRA) and event wildcard Mason Ho (HAW) in heat two.
Heat three will host three-time WSL champion and four-time event winner Mick Fanning (AUS) against Jordy Smith (ZAF) and 2016 WSL rookie Conner Coffin (USA).
Six-time World Champion Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) will battle Malia Manuel (HAW) in the women’s round four heat two.
Gilmore will fight to comeback from her round four exit at Snapper Rocks and continue to chase a fourth Bells title.
Former world champions Joel Parkinson, Kelly Slater and Gabriel Medina were all eliminated on Easter Monday.
Surfline, official forecaster for the World Surf League, has forecast a small mid period swell from the south-west falling slightly during the next few days. Light and variable south to south-east winds until Thursday and switching to the west and south-west. Small mid period swell from the west and south-west rising later in the later part of the week. Light and variable west to north-west winds later and switching to the south or south-west. Small mid period swell from the south-west holding during the day. Light and variable south to south-east winds with smooth seas.
Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach round four match-ups:
Heat 1: Italo Ferreira (BRA), Nat Young (USA), Julian Wilson (AUS).
Heat 2: Matt Wilkinson (AUS), Wiggolly Dantas (BRA), Mason Ho (HAW).
Heat 3: Mick Fanning (AUS), Jordy Smith (ZAF), Conner Coffin (USA).
Heat 4: Michel Bourez (PYF), Caio Ibelli (BRA), Davey Cathels (AUS).
Rip Curl Women’s Pro Bells Beach round four match-ups:
Heat 1: Alessa Quizon (HAW) v Bianca Buitendag (ZAF).
Heat 2: Malia Manuel (HAW) v Stephanie Gilmore (AUS).
Heat 3: Nikki Van Dijk (AUS) v Tyler Wright (AUS).
Heat 4: Bronte Macaulay (AUS) v Tatiana Weston-Webb (HAW).
For more information, log onto WorldSurfLeague.com
