Sally Fitzgibbons on track for record-equalling third Bells crown after overcoming virus

SALLY Fitzgibbons is in the box seat to win a record-equalling third Rip Curl Pro at Bells Beach despite being floored by a nasty virus in the lead up to the event.

Sally Fitzgibbons of Australia (pictured) heads down the beach for her Round 3 heat at the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach on Saturday March 25, 2016. PHOTO: © WSL / Kirstin SOCIAL: @kirstinscholtz @wsl This is a hand-out image from the World Surf League and is royalty free for editorial use only, no commercial rights granted. The copyright is owned by World Surf League. Sale or license of the images is prohibited. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

SALLY Fitzgibbons pulled herself out of a sick bed to surf into contention to win a record-equalling third Rip Curl Pro at Bells Beach.

The NSW South Coast surfer blasted her way back into contention for her first victory of the season with two stunning victories at the annual Victorian event.

Fitzgibbons, desperate to wipe away the memory of finishing 13th in the tour opener, was laid low by a nasty virus in the lead up to the event and admitted she was unsure how her form would be at Bells.

Sally Fitzgibbons goes to the edge in her heat at Bells. Picture: Jason Sammon

“It’s a bit of a relief actually, “ Fitzgibbons said.

“While I’m confident in my surfing right now you just never know what the surf will deliver.

“But this has given me a lot of confidence today.

“I’m just sucking in the energy of the place and making it work for me.”

Fitzgibbons survived her second-round elimination to then defeat six-time world champion Stephanie Gilmore and Alessa Quizon in their match-up.

Gilmore will now surf for survival in round four as she attempts to become the first woman to win four crowns at Bells Beach.

Sally Fitzgibbons was all smiles before her heat.

In the men’s surfing Kelly Slater was again on the wrong end of an upset in Saturday’s first round.

The four-time winner of the Rip Curl Pro came unstuck in his first heat against Australian Kai Otton and Alex Ribeiro.

Earlier this month Slater also lost his first heat at the Quiksilver Pro and was then eliminated from the competition by Australian wildcard Stu Kennedy in the sudden-death second round.

While Slater must fire in round two the likes of Mick Fanning, world champion Adriano de Souza and former world champion Gabriel Medina all advanced out of round one.

Australian former world champion Joel Parkinson and Quiksilver Pro winner Matt Wilkinson also advanced directly to the third round.