By Roger Vaughan
Xavier Huxtable was all smiles.Credit: World Surf League
Ethan Ewing has powered into the quarter-finals at Bells Beach with the highest heat score so far among the men or women at the Rip Curl Pro.
Ewing, the only Australian surfer in the men’s field who has won Bells before, shone on Anzac Day with his round-of-16 victory.
Compatriot Xavier Huxtable started a pulsating day of competition with a massive upset, knocking out world No.1 Italo Ferreira.
Then Ewing had 9.33 and 9.43 waves scores on Friday afternoon to post 18.76 in his win over Australian-born Connor O’Leary (13.34), now surfing for Japan.
In the same way that compatriot Tyler Wright looks well-placed heading into the women’s quarters, Ewing is boasting strong form while key rivals are being dispatched.
American world No.1 Caitlin Simmers, also the defending champion at Bells Beach, and Australian world No.3 Molly Picklum were shock losers on Thursday in the women’s round of 16.
“I’ve had some shockers out here with consistency and not catching too many waves, so it feels good to have the Bowl give me one back,” Ewing said.
“That was super fun.
“It just feels good to be in rhythm out here.”
Huxtable’s joy at taking down Ferreira was short-lived, with Griffin Colapinto convincingly beating him 12.90 to 3.00 in the round of 16.
But the local underdog, who gained entry to the Rip Curl Pro by winning the local trials event, pumped up the crowd with his triumph over the Brazilian ace.
“I got to the end of it and looked up, the whole stand, all my family and friends, everyone, was up there just screaming – going ‘c’mon’,” Huxtable said after the win.
“It got me so excited. It’s a feeling that’s pretty-much impossible to replicate.”
Ferreira had beaten Huxtable to win their opening-round heat. The third surfer involved, Moroccan Ramzi Boukhiam, dramatically suffered a freak knee injury and was forced out of the event.
Organisers had hoped to finish the men’s round of 16 on Friday, but there are still three heats left - including Australian Jack Robinson against Brazilian Filipe Toledo.
Ewing will face in-form Japanese Olympic silver medallist Kanoa Igarashi in the last eight.
The winner will take on either South African Jordy Smith or Australian Morgan Cibilic in the semi-finals.
Smith won the last round in El Salvador, his first tour victory since taking out Bells Beach eight years ago.
Organisers waited two hours on Friday morning before resuming competition four to six-foot conditions, with the event window ending on Monday.
AAP