Rip Curl Pro to return to Bells Beach in 2022 after State Government secures deal

The Rip Curl Pro won’t be held at Bells Beach this Easter, but the State Government is set to announce better news for the iconic surfing event and its future at its traditional location on Friday.

FEARS the Rip Curl Pro surfing tournament would be forever wiped out of the Victorian major events calendar have been allayed, after the State Government stitched up a watertight deal for it to return to Bells Beach next year, and beyond.

It comes as it’s revealed the World Surf League (WSL) sought a guarantee from the government that surfers and officials would be able to freely enter Victoria from New South Wales, regardless of the COVID situation at the time.

The government would not make the promise, and was also unable to guarantee quarantine places for Rip Curl Pro competitors and officials, ahead of the traditional Easter event launch on Victoria’s Surf Coast.

But it will on Friday announce the world-famous surfing tournament will return to its traditional Bells Beach home next year under a new three-year agreement.

The contract between the WSL and Victorian Government means the key leg of the surfing world tour will return to Bells from 2022 and is secure until at least 2024, but dashes hopes some winter events could be held on the Surf Coast this year.

Michel Bourez from France at the 2019 Rip Curl Pro. Picture: Alex Coppel

The Rip Curl Pro has been held at Bells Beach, near Torquay, since 1961 and is a major driver of the local economy.

Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Martin Pakula said the surfing competition was known around the world and loved at home.

“No one is happy that we can’t host the event this year, but the public health advice was clear and protecting the health of Victorians is non-negotiable,” he said.

“Bells at Easter is a pillar of our major events calendar and one of the reasons it’s the best in the country.”

WSL Asia-Pacific general manager Andrew Stark said it was disappointing the competition could not be held in Victoria this year, “but we are excited that this new three-year agreement will ensure the continuation of one of surfing’s most historical events . . . (and) look forward to the Bell being rung for a long time to come.”

Spectators look on during the 2019 Rip Curl Pro at Bells Beach. Picture: AAP Image/James Ross

The WSL said it was working closely with other Australian state governments regarding possible locations for the upcoming Australian leg of the championship tour and was exploring multiple options, to get the tournament back on track.

More information on venues would be shared in coming days, it said.

The WSL last week announced the Easter competition would be held in Newcastle, NSW from April 1-11, instead of Bells Beach because of COVID.

Victorian tourism authorities feared the move could lead to the event being permanently stolen by New South Wales.

The WSL on Thursday said it respected the decision by the Victorian Government not to green light its quarantine and travel requests, but had been left with no choice but to move the Easter event because of the risk of lockdowns, border restrictions and the chance the event would be cancelled at the 11th hour in Victoria.

Rip Curl - a global brand, born on the Surf Coast - said it was “gutted” the tournament would not be held at Bells this year, but promised to be bigger and better at Bells, on its “epic” return in 2022.

“We were really excited about welcoming the world’s best surfers back to the Rip Curl Pro

this Easter,” chief marketing officer Neil Ridgway said.

“Tyler Wright is leading the women’s rankings and Gabe Medina is second so it was all set to be a doozy for us 40 years after the Big Bells Swell of Easter 1981.

“Unfortunately, the WSL had to cancel the 2021 event due to the risk of a sudden change in COVID-19 restrictions. While we are completely gutted for all of the local fans and businesses, keeping the Surf Coast Shire and wider Victoria COVID-19 free is the top priority . . . the bell stays here in Torquay where it rightfully belongs and we are stoked the

World Tour is up and running again.”

Surf Coast Shire mayor Libby Stapleton said the Rip Curl Pro was an integral part of the region’s identity and economy and she looked forward to its return, while Surfing Victoria chief and former Bells event runner-up Adam Robertson said he was ecstatic to hear the future of the Rip Curl Pro in Victoria was secure.

Originally published as Rip Curl Pro to return to Bells Beach in 2022 after State Government secures deal