Rip Curl Pro 2011 Rip Curl Pro Readies For Pumping Surf

In: Rip Curl Pro 2011 Press Release 1 Comment Mon 18th Apr '11

Tags: kelly slater owen wright , Rip Curl Pro , Bells Beach

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BELLS BEACH, Victoria/Australia (Monday, April 18, 2011) – Tomorrow marks the commencement of the 2011 Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach presented by Ford Ranger and Ford Fiesta and the 50th Anniversary of competitive surfing at Bells.

The world's best surfers have descended on the small Victorian town of Torquay for the second stop on the 2011 ASP World Title season.

Kelly Slater (USA), 39, reigning 10-time ASP World Champion and defending four-time Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach winner, celebrated the historic spirit of the event at today's press conference, recounting his childhood memories of Bells.

"As a kid in the States I saw a lot of film of this event," Slater said. "I got an idea of what the wave was like and that it was like surfing in an arena. I thought of it like two gladiators battling with fans watching from the cliffs. I remember watching Tom Curren and Occy's (Mark Occhilupo heats, and I couldn't wait to come here."

Slater responded to queries regarding his campaign for an 11th ASP World Title in characteristic fashion.

"If I wasn't hungry to win an 11th ASP World Title, then I wouldn't be here," Slater said.

Taj Burrow (AUS), 32, current No. 2 in the hunt for the 2011 ASP World Title, rang the Bell in 2007, and after finishing Runner-Up at the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast, is one of the favourites heading into this event.

"This event gets more special every year," Burrow said. "I couldn't believe when I saw it's been going for 50 years. I had a lot of fun here last year surfing at few different spots like Winki and Johanna. Everyone in the event wants to ring that Bell. I've got one big Bell and two small ones, so I look forward to trying to get up there again."

Owen Wright (AUS), 21, 2010 ASP Rookie of the Year, is hoping to be the first goofy-footer to win the Rip Curl Pro Bells since Mark Occhilupo back in 1998.

"The bigger the waves are the better it is for the backsiders," Wright said. "I remember watching Occy out there when I was a grom, it was the biggest wave I've ever seen out here and he did 3 or 4 of the biggest turns I've ever seen. I think he got a 10-point-ride for it. I'd love to get some waves like that and do some turns like that."

The unofficial competition forecaster, Swellnet, has said the first swell will hit Wednesday morning at 3-5 foot with morning offshore winds. A second pulse is expected during the day on Thursday up to 4-5 foot with all day offshores. A further pulse is due Friday potentially building to 4-6 foot.

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