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RIP CURL PRO BELLS BEACH 2009 SURF CONTEST HEADLINES

Joel Parkinson Wins The 2009 Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach

Thursday, April 16th: Joel Parkinson wins the 2009 Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach defeating Victoria's own Adam Robertson at Bells Beach in solid overhead surf.

The second stop on the 2009 ASP World Tour, the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach enjoyed pristine conditions for the business end of competition, with capacity crowds turning up to watch the current ASP World No. 1 battle the local Victorian in a historic Final.

Today’s victory marks the second time Parkinson has hoisted the bell (the first being in 2004), and the reputation and acclaim associated with the iconic event is something every surfer dreams of.

"Winning at home is probably the most special win you can have but this is the most special trophy you can have,” Parkinson said. “There is not another trophy in surfing that holds the prestige and honor list that this has. To be back on the trophy again and to hold it for a year is going to be amazing.”

Parkinson’s win today makes it two for two thus far on the 2009 ASP World Tour ratings, cementing the stylish natural-footer’s place atop the ratings in the hunt for the ASP World Title.

“I took confidence from home and now from here I’ll take more,” Parkinson said. “People can get caught up in the whole world title race, but I always said I wanted start the year with some results – I just never thought I would start this well. There are a lot of really hungry, angry surfers that are behind me and will come out so strong in the next events. I’m just showing up to the next event with my same game plan and taking things step by step. I’ve said since the Gold Coast that the World Title is a marathon, not a sprint. There are still eight events.”

While Robertson opened up strong, it was Parkinson’s forehand flair and precision that saw the Gold Coaster net an impressive 17.40 out of a possible 20 heat total for the win.

“Robbo (Adam Robertson) and I were having a great time out there,” Parkinson said. “We were talking about what it takes to win and having a wonderful Final. I have to really pay Robbo a huge compliment because of his effort out here. For a wildcard and coming through the trials, he surfed so many heats, (I think nine) and what’s he accomplished is just so admirable.”

Robertson’s effort at the 2009 Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach will go down in history, as the young natural-footer’s runner-up finish is the highest ever by a Victorian at the prestigious competition.

“I guess I just got on a roll in the heat against Bede (Durbidge) and the waves were really good and they suited me,” Robertson said. “I just had to roll with it and I am really happy with the result.”

Throughout the course of the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach, Robertson went toe-to-toe with the world’s best surfers, eliminating Kekoa Bacalso (HAW), 23, Tom Whitaker (AUS), 29, Bede Durbidge (AUS), 25, among others in the process. Despite not having a major sponsor, Robertson’s nine-heat effort proved to all that he’s capable of world-class surfing

“It’s great, I feel good, I feel fit and I feel like I am surfing well,” Robertson said. “I just have to take that into the WQS (World Qualifying Series) now so that I can qualify for the ASP World Tour. The prize-money will help, but a little bit extra is always good, a bit of sponsorship. But that’s okay, it is really hard right now for a lot of people to get a sponsor, not just myself. My goal is just to go good and win prize money and keep going. I will just keep that mentality until someone comes along and if sponsorship doesn’t come along then I’ve just got to keep going good.”

Fredrick Patacchia (HAW), 27, secured an equal 3rd at the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach (his best finish to date) with no-nonsense power surfing on his backhand before going down to Robertson in the Semifinals. Despite failing to see a Finals berth, Patacchia’s stellar start to 2009 has him sitting No. 3 on the ASP World Tour ratings.

"I am totally stoked with my start to the year,” Patacchia said. “Being a backsider out here is difficult, but I have been watching guys like Occ (Mark Occhilupo) and Tom Carroll all my life and it just takes time to figure it out. It is tricky. It is one of those waves you can surf your whole life and still have a shocker."

Jordy Smith (ZAF), 21, former ASP World Junior Champion and ASP World Qualifying Series (WQS) No. 1, is into his second season on the ASP World Tour and today’s finish matched his best result. The powerful natural-footer went on a tear through today’s proceedings, eliminating former ASP World Champion Mick Fanning (AUS), 27, in the Quarterfinals before falling to eventual winner Parkinson in the Semifinals.

"This is the best result of my career so far,” Smith said. “I think it is equal with what I got at J-Bay as a wildcard. I can’t complain. I’ll maybe have a little fun tonight, a little party and celebrate with the winner. It has been pretty much good waves all week so I have been stoked to be down here. Congratulations to Joel (Parkinson), he made the Final and he surfed really well. I think this year is his year, he is certainly a world title contender."

Highlights from Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach pres. by Snickers will be available via www.live.ripcurl.com

The next stop on the 2009 ASP World Tour will be the Billabong Pro Teahupoo from May 9 – 20, 2009.

For more information, log onto www.aspworldtour.com

RIP CURL PRO BELLS BEACH FINAL RESULTS:
1 – Joel Parkinson (AUS) 17.40
2 – Adam Robertson (AUS) 13.37

RIP CURL PRO BELLS BEACH SEMIFINAL RESULTS:
SF 1: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 16.33 def. Jordy Smith (ZAF) 15.24
SF 2: Adam Robertson (AUS) 13.87 def. Fred Patacchia (HAW) 12.73

RIP CURL PRO BELLS BEACH QUARTERFINAL RESULTS:
QF 1: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 13.17 def. C.J. Hobgood (USA) 8.66
QF 2: Jordy Smith (ZAF) 15.50 def. Mick Fanning (AUS) 15.16
QF 3: Adam Robertson (AUS) 14.26 def. Kekoa Bacalso (HAW) 12.33
QF 4: Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) 14.13 def. Kieren Perrow (AUS) 12.17

Finals Highlights Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach

Semifinal Highlights from the 2009 Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach

Quarterfinalists Determined in Classic Conditions at Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach: Thursday, April 16, 2009: Classic conditions with stiff offshore winds and solid surf in the four-to-six foot (1.5 – 2 metre) range once again graced Bells Beach today as the Rip Curl Pro presented by Snickers determined the Quarterfinalists, setting up a potential all-time finish for tomorrow.

Quaterfinal Highlights from the 2009 Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach

Round Three Highlights from the 2009 Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach

Round Two Highlights from the 2009 Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach

Round One Highlights - 2009 Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach

Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach Photos
More Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach Photos onProSurfing.com

Another Lay Day for Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach, Swell Predicted Tomorrow Friday, April 10, 2009: Small surf in the one-to-two foot 0.5 metre range has prompted officials at the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach to call another lay day this morning in hopes of the predicted swell to fill in for tomorrow. The second event of the ASP World Tour and ASP Women's World Tour respectively, the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach has already completed the opening rounds of competition for both the men and women,…

Lay Day for Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach Thursday, April 9, 2009: Officials have called a lay day for the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach with only one foot 0.3 metre waves on offer this morning at Victoria's iconic break. Event Nos. 2 of 10 and 2 of 8 on the ASP World Tour and ASP Women's World Tour respectively, the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach has already completed the opening rounds of competition for both the men and women, requiring just three more days to compete both events. "We're only int…

Experience Prevails at Rip Curl Women's Pro Bells Beach Round 1 Wednesday, April 8, 2009: The opening day for the Rip Curl Women's Pro Bells Beach presented by Ford New Fiesta ran today in contestable two-to-three foot 1 metre surf up at Rincon with the experienced competitors advancing out of Round 1. Event No. 2 of 8 on the 2009 ASP Women's World Tour, the Rip Curl Women's Pro played witness to some stylish surfing and smart heat tactics, with five of the six Round 1 heats won by ASP…

Smith Sizzles as Owen Upsets on Dramatic Day at Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach Tuesday, April 7, 2009: Round 1 of the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach presented by Snickers was completed today in three-to-four foot 1 metre waves in the Bells Bowl, and the implementation of the new format, rendering the opening round an elimination man-on-man affair, saw surfers lifting their competitive game to survive a dramatic day of action. Event No. 2 of 10 on the 2009 ASP World Tour, the Rip Curl Pro Bells B…

Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach Rolls Out New Format for 2009

Wednesday, March 25, 2009: The 2009 Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach presented by Snickers will bring the ASP Top 45 back to the iconic Bells Beach in Victoria, Australia from April 7 – 18, 2009, and this year’s event will provide the surfers and spectators will a dynamic new format, heightening the drama and enhancing the performances of the world’s best surfers in the world’s best waves. More 2009 Rip Curl Pro Bells

How To Surf Bells Beach: Bells is one of the world’s most famous waves, but it is a tricky spot to master...

More Rip Curl Pro Bells videos like this on Pro Surfing .com

TIME DIFFERENCE: GMT + 10

COORDINATES: 38º20’ S, 144º19’ E

BAGGAGE CLAIM: Melbourne Avalon Airport, Geelong (GEX)

TRANSPORTATION: Rent a car or pray your team manager has a van. Melbourne airport is a good hour away from Torquay, and the break at Bells is a fair hike from most of the local accomodation.

ATTITUDE: Torquay is the birth place of both Rip Curl Wetsuits and Quiksilver Clothing… you really can’t get more core. Surf culture, and those who embrace it, are alive and well in this Down Under industry mecca teeming with folklore.

THE WAVE: Bells Beach is comprised of several breaks, The Bowl, Outside Bells, Rincon, Centreside, Southside and Winkipop among them. Outside Bells is the main break that produces a long, fast, even wall when it gets above six foot. The Bowl is the steep final section of the wave, and just east of The Bowl, Winki runs over a reef producing a quick, hollow wave that often surpasses conditions at Bells proper.

PERKS: “Ringing a Bell”, or winning one at Bells, rates right up there with childbirths and wedding days for the guys who get to do it — it’s one of surfing’s highest honors.

PERILS: Run up and down the stairway from the cliff to the sea a few times and you’re well on your way to buns o’ steel. The occasional White Pointer has been spotted around the chilly waters of Torquay, but are generally well fed.

APRES SURF: Bells is a pretty sleepy spot, but The Torquay Hotel, Rip Curl’s Media Night and a house party or two heat things up when it’s cold outside.

ASP WORLD TOUR HISTORY: The Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach is the longest-runnning professional surfing contest in existence. The event has been run around Easter time each year since 1973!

NOTABLE: The Rip Curl Pro ran in 15-foot monster sets in 1981 — one wave was even ridden from Rincon all the way to Winkipop! The same year, shaping pioneer Simon Anderson won the event on a three-fin board, ushering in the dominance of the thruster. In 1987 Nick Wood and Richard Marsh made the final…and they were both trialists! Nick won at the ripe old age of 15. Mick Fanning also won the event as a wildcard in 2001. In 1993 the move that has transformed professional surfing as we know it was made — flat surf forced the event to go mobile… a luxury often utilized now. Sunny Garcia has won the contest and rung the bell three times, but has yet to actually win an event in the Bowl.

NEWS & PHOTOS FOR ARCHIVED EVENTS

Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach 2008