Just as Muslims are compelled to make the pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca once in their lives, Australian surf fans must head the higher calling to visit the spiritual capital of surfing Bells Beach. Every Easter surf fans come in droves. In fact, the Rip Curl Pro is the worlds longest running professional surfing contest, it began in 1973. As 1981 Bells winner, and inventor of the 3 fin thruster puts it, It s way more hard core down there, and there s the tradition, and I think that s the key.
Bells combines all the elements of surfing.
You can go off down the coast surfing secret waves, there s the contest, the partying, cruising in the Kombi . The list of past winners reads like the who s who of pro surfing including Mark Richards, Tom Carroll, Tom Curren, Kelly Slater, Mark Occilupo, Sunny Garcia . Bells 2000 was once again a hotly contested affair. With the music setting the stage and the conditions picture perfect, it was defending Bells champ Shane Dorian s shock first round elimination that ushered in a string of upsets. Hopefully the surf is good in Fiji and Tahiti.