TRIALISTs VIE FOR WILDCARDS AT OXBOW PRO WORLD LONGBOARD CHAMPIONSHIP

TRIALISTs VIE FOR WILDCARDS AT OXBOW PRO WORLD LONGBOARD CHAMPIONSHIP

ANGLET, France (Monday, Apr. 30, 2007) – It was an epic morning of surfing at les Cavaliers, Anglet, France as the challenge to find the four wildcards that will compete in the main event of the Oxbow Pro World Longboard Championship started in earnest. The winner of the main event will be crowned as the Association of Surfing Professionals' (ASP) world longboard champion.

Yet with only four spots available and 48 trialists entered, competition was always going to be fierce. Luckily with an outgoing tide, conditions went from excellent to epic throughout the heats of round 1, with six-foot faces being brushed by a light offshore breeze.

The first heat of the day saw young South African surfer Kwezi Qika hit the water. The 18-year-old from Cape Town has probably sacrificed more than most to make the event.

"There has been times when I have not eaten at night, just to save extra money so I could come here, said Qika.

"I also had to ask my Mum for a loan, so it's been really hard. My goal is just to get through my first heat."

Despite having to hitchhike to the event from neighboring Biarritz leaving the backpackers where he is staying at 5.30am, Qika realized his goal and progressed through his first heat, along with Brazilian Robledo de Oliveira.

Unfortunately though his good fortune didn't hold and he was eliminated in the second round. Qika's traveling partner, Durban's Lyle Greer, was also unlucky breaking his board in Heat 11.

"I sold my car to come to this event and I had such high hopes and now I've broken my board," lamented the South African. "Plus I lost in my first heat and now I have to go home."

His travels home were in stark contrast to those of local standout Damien Castera (FRA) who lives within walking distance of the competition break. Despite some nerves, but with friends and family cheering him on, Castera scored one of the highest heat scores of the day, a 15.00 out of a possible 20.00, to convincingly win his heat.

"My legs were shaking as I'm always pretty nervous in competitions,'" said Castera. "But I managed that long wave and am very happy. There are only four spots available, and there are so many good surfers, but I will aim to do my best and make the main event."

Edouard Delpero (FRA), another local young talent, will join Castera in the second round. Delpero, an alternate on the trials list, was taken out of class at his nearby high school by his father this morning when a late cancellation meant he earned an event berth at short notice. It didn't seem to faze the 16-year-old, who finished second behind Harrison Roach, the Australian scoring a day high 16.25 out of 20. Compatriot Jackson Close, who also surfed with a mix of modern radical moves and traditional style scored a two-wave total of 16.25 and was the only surfer to match this score.

Unfortunately a viscous storm carrying strong onshore winds and rain meant that competition was abandoned after Heat 2 of the Round of 68. Conditions are set to improve tomorrow with organizers hoping to finish the trials event and push on to start the main event of the Oxbow Pro World Longboard Championship. For more information go www.oxboworld.com

Upcoming Round 2 Heats: 69 surfers remain (1st and 2nd advance)
Heat 3: Nahina Kapono (HAW), James Parry (GBR), Troy Mothershead (USA)
Heat 4: Dino Miranda (HAW), Adam Griffiths (GBR), Hugo le Frapper (FRA), Elliot Dudley (GBR)
Heat 5: Tony Silvagni (USA), Theirry Andre (FRA), Damien Castera (FRA), Edwouard Delpero (FRA)
Heat 6: Claude Maki (JPN), Mathieu Marachal (FRA), Ramon Perez (ESP), Harrison Roach (AUS)

Results
Round 1: 92 surfers remain: (1st and 2nd advance)
Heat 1: Robledo de Oliveria (BRA) 8.50, Kwezi Qika (SAF) 8.25, Jose Teixeira (PRT) 4.60, Clovis Donizetti (FRA) 4.40
Heat 2: Jackson Close (AUS) 16.25, Christian Clark (USA) 9.15, Alexis Deniel (FRA) 9.05, Paulo Dias PRT) 4.20
Heat 3: Sam Bleakley (GBR) 12.40, Luis Bento (PRT) 8.00, Jon Kepoo 7.05, Xabi Jourdes (EUR) 6.35
Heat 4: Jared Neal (AUS) 14.25 Gabriel Nasciemento (BRA) 9.15, Jason Suzuki (JPN) 7.20, Pedro Silva (PRT) 3.35
Heat 5: Michael Detemple (USA) 12.85, Dino Miranda (HAW) 12.25, Yuji Yoshikawa 8.00, Karna Goile (FRA) 7.75
Heat 6: Adam Griffits (GBR) 14.75, Nahina Kapano (HAW) 12.90 Jeremy Boisson (FRA) 7.05, Arauzo Remi (FRA) 6.34
Heat 7: James Perry (GBR) 12.00, Hugo Le Fraper (8.75), Jesse Jeremes (AUS) 7.50, Benoit Brecq (FRA) 5.75
Heat 8: Elliot Dudley (GBR) 13.50 , Tony Mothershead (USA) 12.75, Hugo Tapia (PRT) 9.25, Keoki Saguibo (HAW) 6.50
Heat 9: Tony Silvagni (USA) 15.00, Claude Maki (JPN) 10.00, Lucien le Ray (FRA) 4.10, Marcos Reis 1.65
Heat 10: Mathieu Marechal (FRA) 12.00, Thierry Andre (FRA) 9.85, Marcelo Lima (BRA) 9.25, Gwen Christien (FRA) 7.30
Heat 11: Damien Castera (FRA) 15.00, Ramon Perez (ESP) 6.70, Lyle Greer (SAF) 4.35, Miguel Ferreira (PRT) 3.70
Heat 12: Harrison Roach (AUS) 16.25, Eduardo Delpero (FRA) 14.25, Scotty Fong (11.75), Roberto Lorenzo Sosa (ESP) 9.40

Round 2: 68 surfers remain (1st and 2nd advance)
Heat 1: Sam Bleakley (GBR) 14.25, Robledo de Oliveira (BRA) 12.05, Christian Clark (USA) 10.25, Gabriel Nascimento (BRA) 6.60
Heat 2: Jared Neal (AUS) 13.65, Jackson Close (AUS) 12.05, Luis Bento (PRT) 6.85, Kwezi Qika (zAF) 6.50

OXBOW PRO WORLD LONGBOARD CHAMPIONSHIP UNDERWAY

The Oxbow Pro World Longboard Championship, the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) International's premier event in longboard surfing, has started today at Les Cavalliers, Anglet, France, under sunny skies and with glassy, four foot waves.
An international field of 48 triallists, consisting of surfers from Brazil, South Africa, USA, Portugal, Hawaii, Great Britain, South Africa, Japan, Australia and France, will be competing today to secure the coveted final four positions for the main event, which is expected to start tomorrow.
The successful triallists will then be in the running to be crowned the Oxbow Pro Longboard World Champion and share in the $US50,000 prizemoney on offer. Organisers are predicting an incredible week of waves for the elite field of longboard surfers, which includes defending event champion Josh Constable (AUS) and former world champions Joel Tudor (USA), Colin McPhillips (USA), and Bonga Perkins (Haw). Local hopes will be centred upon Oxbow's wildcard Antoine Delpero, a Marseille raised surfer who now lives in this area of the Basque coast.
With incredible sand banks at the contest venue at Les Cavalliers providing hundred yard rolling lefts and rights and a low tide in the middle of the day, conditions are set to improve, giving the up and comers every chance to show their mix of smooth, controlled longboard style and radical modern surfing. With the chance to compete for the ultimate prize in longboard surfing at one of the spiritual homes of European surfing, the day's action is set to spectacular. For more information, live webcast and heat results go to www.oxboworld.com

OXBOW PRO TO CROWN 2007 ASP WORLD LONGBOARD CHAMPION IN ANGLET

ANGLET, France (Friday, Apr. 27, 2007) – With the Oxbow World Longboard Championship scheduled to start this Monday, Apr. 30, at Anglet, France, the Basque Coast is set for a huge influx of surfing legends and the world's hottest longboarders. One such surfer will be crowned the ASP World Longboard Champion by May 6, the last day of the event waiting period.

It is believed that surfing was first brought to Europe way back in 1956 by Hollywood screenwriter Peter Viertel when he was in Biarritz filming 'The Sun also Rises.' From that, a local surfing community quickly sprung up, led by Biarritz legends George Hennebutte and Joel de Rosnay. Since then the area has been labeled as the cradle of European surfing and is known as its spiritual home.

It is fitting then that just over 40 years later Oxbow have chosen this part of the world to host the ASP World Longboard Championship, offering a $US50,000 prize purse to those whose surfing best represents a mix of smooth, traditional longboarding skills and dynamic, modern, radical moves.

The 2006 winner of the event, Australian Josh Constable, will be there to defend the crown he won in epic waves in Costa Rica and is understandably excited.

"I think going to Anglet is a great thing," said Constable earlier in the year. "Hopefully it will have some size and last year at Costa Rica the waves were just that - head high beach breaks - and I did well there so I'm pumped."

With the world's best longboarders entering the event Constable faces the sternest of challenges to repeat his triumph. Surfers like Bonga Perkins (HAW), Joel Tudor (USA) plus American Colin McPhillips (USA) are all previous world champions and are all expected to figure highly.

Local hopes though will be resting on young Frenchman and Oxbow wildcard Antoine Delpero. Delpero was raised in the Mediterranean waters around the beautiful city of Marseille, but has been based in the Basque coast for the last few years. An accomplished shortboarder and longboarder, Antoine has made a name for himself riding the huge waves of the Basque coast this winter and has the talent to spring some major upsets.

Overlooking all this mix of experience and youth will be the patron of the event and 1966 world champion Nat Young. Nat is almost a mythical ambassador to the sport of surfing and in particular longboarding and will be lending his support and immense knowledge to the event. He will also be joined by another bona fide surfing legend, Laird Hamilton. Surfing's closest thing to a superhero will be in attendance, giving demonstrations of his prowess on a range of surfing equipment including a paddle board, an ancient Hawaiian tradition he has resurrected which involves standing on a surfboard and using a paddle to propel him into waves.

The Oxbow World Longboard Championships is an official ASP World Longboard Tour event and will use the same format used by shortboard surfing's ultimate professional series - the Foster's ASP World Tour - which has a 48-man draw where surfers compete in man-on-man heats from round two.

With a solid swell predicted, the excitement of the man-on-man format, the famous beaches of les Cavaliers, la Barre and les Dunes providing epic locations and the presence of so many of surfing's luminaries, the Oxbow World Longboard Championship is set to be one of the premier events in the surfing calendar. For more information go to www.oxboworld.com

BILLABONG PRO TAHITI – WORLD’S HEAVIEST WAVE NEXT STOP ON ASP TOUR

TEAHUPOO, Tahiti (Monday, April 23rd, 2007) – Australian surfers Taj Burrow (AUS) and Mick Fanning (AUS) will enter the Billabong Pro Tahiti ranked equal 1st in the world when the Foster's ASP World Tour heads to Tahiti from May 4-14, 2007.

Fanning and Burrow dominated the Australian leg of the tour claiming events at Snapper Rocks and Bells Beach respectively, but neither has earned ultimate honors at Teahupoo, the third of 10 stops on this year's tour.

Fanning, who has claimed elite tour victories in Australia, Brazil and South Africa, has never won an event in the South Pacific, in fact, he finished dead last in the Billabong Pro Tahiti in 2006.

A stellar start to his 2007 title campaign prompted Fanning to fly to Tahiti for the past week to get in some extra practice, the only tour surfer to do so. Landing into a perfect 3m swell, the skillful natural footer clocked up some invaluable tube riding experience at the nerve racking break.

He will return to Australia tomorrow morning, while the Billabong Pro Tahiti's precursor, The Air Tahiti Nui Von Zipper Trials get underway. (April 24th-29th)

"I think to win in Tahiti would be an ultimate," Fanning said. "There are a few places that you dream of winning as a kid and I am sure this is one of them for every surfer."

"I have never really done well in Tahiti," he said. "I feel comfortable there but maybe I have never backed myself at the location.

"This year I feel a lot better about the place and hope all the bad results I've had there end this year."

Burrow is coming off an equal 3rd finish at the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast and a win at the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach and is looking to continue his momentum as the Dream Tour ventures into the South Pacific.

"I'm stoked with my start to the year, but now its time to focus on Chopes," Burrow said. "It is a tough contest to win – there are a lot of guys who specialize there.

"I've had some really good results in the past with a 2nd and a 3rd but winning Chopes is what counts, and that's what I'll be going for.

"I think I can do it, I will just go into the event taking all the experience and balls that I have and go for it."

Long touted as Australia's big hope to regain the Foster's ASP World Title from the American and Hawaiian dynasties, Burrow admits that the fire still burns within to capture surfing's most sought-after crown.

His recent string of results and level of surfing has been attributed to a return to focus in training and diet, something absent in the 28-year-old's previous title campaigns.

"Well as far as the title goes, it would mean the world to me if I was the next Aussie world champ," Burrow said. "That's what I've been fighting for my whole career.

"It is a huge task to win a world title, but it's there for the taking and that's what I'm aiming to do this year."

Widely considered one of Mother Nature's most dangerous creations, the barreling beast has seen American surfers secure victories in seven out of eight elite tour events held there.

Last year, Californian rookie Bobby Martinez (USA) won the contest. Former ASP world champions Kelly Slater (USA), CJ Hobgood (USA) and Andy Irons (HAW) as well as tour stalwart Cory Lopez (USA) dominated proceedings in years prior.

Australian Mark Occhilupo won the inaugural ASP World Tour event in Tahiti in 1999 – the same year he went on to secure the ASP World Title. An Australian has not won in Tahiti or earned an ASP World Title since.

Irons, former three-time ASP World Champion, won the Billabong Pro Tahiti in 2002, but hasn't featured in a final there since. Irons finished a disappointing 33rd in the first event on the 2007 Foster's ASP World Tour, but bounced back to earn runner-up honors at stop No. 2 in Bells Beach, Australia.

The former champ will be eager to maintain that momentum and keep himself in title contention at the Billabong Pro Teahupoo. He currently sits an uncharacteristic 10th in the ratings.

"I can't wait, I'm really looking forward to Tahiti," Irons said. "Teahupoo is one of my favorite events on tour and this year the pressure is on the guys at the top. I

"I'll just be sneaking around, hovering in the back 10 and hopefully making some more ground."

The Air Tahiti Nui Von Zipper Trials will begin tomorrow, Apr. 24, 2007, and will be an event in itself. The six-day trials will feature an 80-surfer draw consisting of 40 local Tahitian Teahupoo specialists as well as 40 respected international invitees.

The Air Tahiti Nui Von Zipper Trials will award two highly-coveted wildcard entries into the Billabong Pro Tahiti to the winner and runner-up on Apr. 29, 2007.

The third official event wildcard will go to Hira Terinatoofa (PYF), the dangerous Tahitian who has a penchant sticking it to the world's best.

The waiting period for the Billabong Pro Teahupoo begins May 4, 2007. Early swell predictions indicate a high level of activity in the South Pacific, meaning promising conditions for the idyllic location of Teahupoo, Tahiti.

The Billabong Pro Teahupoo will be webcast on www.aspworldtour.com and www.billabongpro.com.

PAST BILLABONG PRO TEAHUPOO CHAMPIONS:
2006: Bobby Martinez (USA)
2005: Kelly Slater (USA)
2004: CJ Hobgood (USA)
2003: Kelly Slater (USA)
2002: Andy Irons (HAW)
2001: Cory Lopez (USA)
2000: Kelly Slater (USA)
1999: Mark Occhilupo (AUS)

BURROW BEATS IRONS AND RINGS THE BELL AT THE 35TH ANNUAL RIP CURL PRO

BELLS BEACH, Australia (Thursday, Apr. 12, 2007) – Taj Burrow (AUS) is elated that his name will be etched alongside the who's who of professional surfing after eliminating Andy Irons (HAW) in the 35th Annual Rip Curl Pro presented by Snickers at Bells Beach today.

"It just feels too good to be true, I'm just so happy," Burrow said. "This is my pick of any contest that I would like to win, so it just feels unbelievable. I'm so happy to get my name on the trophy with all of the other guys' that have won the event. I've put a bit more work into this year so it's good that I'm seeing some results."

Burrow came from behind to beat Irons with just two minutes left on the clock when he scored a 9.00 point ride in the dying minutes of the heat.

"I knew I had to ride it well because it was such a good wave," Burrow said. "I was trying not to think about finishing the wave and everything around me or how many people were watching and how much pressure was on me. I just rode the thing to the end. Halfway through it I knew I had the score so I just started thrashing it around a little more and trying to put more into each of my turns. I just had that feeling where I went 'Yes, I just nailed it!' in the last few seconds and it felt unbelievable."

Burrow featured in the Rip Curl Pro final in 2004, but finished runner-up to Joel Parkinson (AUS). He hasn't won a Foster's ASP World Tour victory since winning in Brazil in 2004.

"It feels unreal just to ring that thing finally," Burrow said. "Having rung the little one, the big one's a lot louder."

Burrow now sits equal 1st with Mick Fanning (AUS) on the Foster's ASP World Tour ratings with a win and a 3rd place result each. Both Australians are out to earn their maiden world titles in 2007.

"It's early days and there are a lot of hungry guys out there for it, but I'm just stoked to have such a good start to the year," Burrow said. "It's unreal, it feels like a little changing of the guards, so I'm stoked to be a part of it."

Irons, who was the Rip Curl Pro Champion in 2002 and 2003 as well as runner-up to Trent Munro (AUS) in 2005, led for much of the final, but without a solid scoreline to buffer Burrow's charge, was left defenseless and unable to answer back in the dying seconds of the heat.

"You never have it in the bag, especially in a final with a guy like Taj," Irons said. "I knew there was another set coming in, I just wasn't sure if it was a good one. There were two waves in my set but I don't think that I would have got a 9.00 on my wave. I think Taj surfed well and smart in the end so he nailed it."

The three-time world champion's Rip Curl Pro Final berth was especially important after finishing last in the first event of the year on the Gold Coast. Despite finishing second today, Irons was pleased to share the podium and Bell ringing responsibilities with Burrow.

"I'm stoked for him," Irons said. "I've got two runner-ups and two wins at Bells and that's not bad. Everyone writes you off as soon you I get a bad result so it feels good to show that I am still here and I'm not going anywhere."

Irons, who is chasing his fourth world title this year was first to acknowledge that the Australians, Burrow and Fanning in particular, are anxious to make a charge.

"They're hungry, they're really hungry," Irons said. "The last Aussie world champ was Occy in '99 so I'm sure that they are definitely going to have a big push this year. They've have always been up there, it is just a matter of putting the whole year together. There's only been two events so will see how they do when it comes to the 10th event."

Irons eliminated Fanning, who won the Rip Curl Pro as a wildcard in 2001, in the Semifinals. Fanning's Round 3 wave and heat totals were the highest of the event.

"In the bigger picture a 1st and a 3rd for the first two events of the year is pretty good – I'm pretty happy with that," Fanning said. "I really wanted to make that final and ring another Bell but Andy got that one 9.00 and sort of put me out of the picture a little bit."

Tom Whitaker (AUS), currently rated 8th in the world also earned an equal 3rd result at the Rip Curl Pro. Whitaker finished in the Top 10 on last year's Foster's ASP World Tour ratings but still manages to sneak under the radar most of the time.

"This is a great result; I really wanted to try and take the Bell home but TB was flaring," Whitaker said. "It was super close I think, I couldn't hear too much but I believe I only needed a 0.10 or 0.20. A lot of the epic waves didn't come through but there were lots of medium sized ones where we were trying to push it a bit more just to get the scores since the waves weren't awesome. Plenty of fun waves out there though, Bells always chucks up some really fun ones."

Whitaker earned his semifinal berth at the expense of eight-time world champion and defending Rip Curl Pro Champion Kelly Slater (USA) who now sits equal 4th in the ratings.

"I just need to sit down and think about where my head was at," Slater said after his loss to Whitaker. "I generally don't get that rattled in heats but I felt a little physically weak – I'm getting healthy again and I felt a little jittery. I fell on three or four different waves out there. There was one where I fell on my third turn and had I made that it could have been a different story. Tom played a good heat and he played the conditions just right."

Finishing equal 5th in the Rip Curl Pro were Slater, Royden Bryson (ZAF), Damien Hobgood (USA) and Joel Parkinson (AUS).

Teahupoo, Tahiti is the next stop on the Foster's ASP World Tour. The world's Top 45 surfers will reconvene there in early May.

Rip Curl Pro Final Results:
Final: Taj Burrow (AUS) 16.83 def. Andy Irons (HAW) 14.73

Rip Curl Pro Semifinal Results; 1st advances to Final, 2nd finishes equal 3rd
Heat 1: Taj Burrow (AUS) 15.30 def. Tom Whitaker (AUS) 15.13
Heat 2: Andy Irons (HAW) 16.90 def. Mick Fanning (AUS) 16.17

Rip Curl Pro Quarterfinal Results; 1st advances to Semifinals, 2nd finishes equal 5th
Heat 1: Taj Burrow (AUS) 14.07 def. Royden Bryson (ZAF) 11.40
Heat 2: Tom Whitaker (AUS) 16.33 def. Kelly Slater (USA) 14.34
Heat 3: Andy Irons (USA) 17.17 def. Damien Hobgood (USA) 12.10
Heat 4: Mick Fanning (AUS) 13.46 def. Joel Parkinson (AUS) 13.16

Rip Curl Pro Round 4 Results; 1st advances to Quarterfinals, 2nd finishes equal 9th
Heat 1: Royden Bryson (ZAF) 16.50 def. Bede Durbidge (AUS) 12.10
Heat 2: Taj Burrow (AUS) 14.24 def. Danny Wills (AUS) 11.50
Heat 3: Tom Whitaker (AUS) 14.34 def. Leonardo Neves (BRA) 11.06
Heat 4: Kelly Slater (USA) 16.34 def. Travis Logie (ZAF) 15.43
Heat 5: Andy Irons (HAW) 8.94 def. Ben Dunn (AUS) 4.70
Heat 6: Damien Hobgood (USA) 15.07 def. Fred Patacchia (HAW) 11.17
Heat 7: Mick Fanning (AUS) 15.87 def. Mick Campbell (AUS) 15.17
Heat 8: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 17.44 def. Bruce Irons (HAW) 12.17

Foster's ASP World Tour Top 10 after Stop No. 2, the Rip Curl Pro at Bells Beach
1. Mick Fanning 3536 points
1. Taj Burrow 3536 points
3. Bede Durbidge 1632 points
4. Kelly Slater 1608 points
5. Joel Parkinson 1464 points
6. Michael Campbell 1332 points
6. Ben Dunn 1332 points
8. Tom Whitaker 1286 points
9. Andy Irons 1257 points
10. Bruce Irons 1200 points
10. Daniel Wills 1200 points
10. Travis Logie 1200 points

RIP CURL PRO AT BELLS BEACH FINAL DAY UNDERWAY

BELLS BEACH, Australia (Thursday, Apr. 12, 2007) – With just one day in the event waiting period to spare, Rip Curl Pro presented by Snickers officials have sent the remaining 16 surfers in contention to 'ring the Bell' out at Bells Beach today.

The Foster's ASP World Tour surfers still competing paddled out into the four foot (1.2 metre) waves at 7am this morning.

Fifteen heats of competition remain and the action commenced with Round 4 this morning. Four of the 16 surfers still surfing have rung the Bell before (Kelly Slater (USA), Andy Irons (HAW), Mick Fanning (AUS), Joel Parkinson (AUS)), two are rookies (Royden Bryson (ZAF) and Ben Dunn (AUS)) and two are back on tour after brief hiatuses (Mick Campbell (AUS) and Leonardo Neves (BRA)).

In addition to former Rip Curl Pro winners, perennially top-performing surfers Taj Burrow (AUS), Damien Hobgood (HAW), Bede Durbidge (AUS), Bruce Irons (HAW) and Fred Pattachia (HAW) are looking for big results.

Rip Curl Pro Round 4 Match-ups
Heat 1: Royden Bryson (ZAF) vs. Bede Durbidge (AUS)
Heat 2: Danny Wills (AUS) vs. Taj Burrow (AUS)
Heat 3: Tom Whitaker (AUS) vs. Leonardo Neves (BRA)
Heat 4: Travis Logie (ZAF) vs. Kelly Slater (USA)
Heat 5: Andy Irons (HAW) vs. Ben Dunn (AUS)
Heat 6: Damien Hobgood (USA) vs. Fred Patacchia (HAW)
Heat 7: Mick Fanning (AUS) vs. Mick Campbell (AUS)
Heat 8: Joel Parkinson (AUS) vs. Bruce Irons (HAW)

THE BELL COULD BE RUNG TOMORROW

BELLS BEACH, Australia (Wednesday, Apr. 11, 2007) – After waiting until 11am to give Bells Beach an opportunity to produce contestable conditions, Round 4 of the Rip Curl Pro presented by Snickers has been called off for the day.

Building swell at the main contest venue at Bells Beach saw conditions improve over the course of the morning, but with highly critical heats hinging on consistent surf, officials have opted to wait until tomorrow morning to send out the remaining 16 surfers.

"A new swell is expected at Bells Beach on Thursday, with conditions likely to be quite favorable in the morning due to an absence of local wind," surf forecaster Ben Matson said.

It is expected that the remaining 15 heats of competition will wrap up tomorrow, Thursday, April 12, 2007. Friday, April 13, is the last day of the event waiting period.

Four former winners in Kelly Slater (USA), Andy Irons (HAW), Joel Parkinson (AUS) and Mick Fanning (AUS) remain in contention to ring the Bell again.

A 6:30am call for a probable 7am start will be made tomorrow morning.

Transcribed athlete interviews, audio files, hi-res images and television news feed details as well as heat by heat info are available at www.aspworldtour.com and www.ripcurl.com/ripcurlpro.

Rip Curl Pro Round 4 Match-ups
Heat 1: Royden Bryson (ZAF) vs. Bede Durbidge (AUS)
Heat 2: Danny Wills (AUS) vs. Taj Burrow (AUS)
Heat 3: Tom Whitaker (AUS) vs. Leonardo Neves (BRA)
Heat 4: Travis Logie (ZAF) vs. Kelly Slater (USA)
Heat 5: Andy Irons (HAW) vs. Ben Dunn (AUS)
Heat 6: Damien Hobgood (USA) vs. Fred Patacchia (HAW)
Heat 7: Mick Fanning (AUS) vs. Mick Campbell (AUS)
Heat 8: Joel Parkinson (AUS) vs. Bruce Irons (HAW)

FANNING KING OF THE GREAT OCEAN ROAD

BELLS BEACH, Australia (Tuesday, Apr. 10, 2007) – On arrival at Bells Beach, Australia, on first light this morning organisers of the Rip Curl Pro were overcome by a sense of déjà vu as they promptly made the decision to pack the Rip Curl semi-trailer and shift the 35-year-old event 2.5 hours south west to Johanna.

Johanna, the site of event yesterday, was almost identical today with very rippable one metre (three foot) plus waves being fanned by an offshore wind.

And while the action was outstanding from those competing in the remaining heats of round three (six of 16 heats were finished yesterday) none were more head turning than that of Foster's ASP World Tour number one Mick Fanning (AUS), who completely blazed a trail in his defeat of young Brazilian Bernardo Miranda (BRA).

Fanning, who claimed a victory in the first tour event of the year on the Gold Coast, displayed form that would surely have him placed as odds-on favourite here in the Rip Curl Pro.

His typical lightening fast turns and his radical changes of direction were scintillating as he notched up the highest score the day – an 18.66 out of 20 – and he gave credit to being at home in the conditions after spending extra time at the break free-surfing over the past few days.

"I surfed it last night and I surfed it this morning, I've been having fun out there," said Fanning. "Running out to the heat I was feeling a little shaky, but I was lucky and got the waves. I'm hopeful now that the roll keeps going."

Fanning's best ride was a 9.83 out of 10. On the wave he pulled into a rare barrel and whipped some huge frontside gouges.

"I didn't think it was that big," said Fanning of the barrel. "I saw that it was going to line up on the inside and it had a pretty good little barrel section. I was just lucky to get in it, but I was surprised."

Looking further into the event Fanning realises he has his work cut out for him as he will have face off against some of the sport's most inform and hungry competitors if he wishes to win the event – including the Foster's ASP World Tour's returnee Mick Campbell (AUS).

"Looking at the start of my draw… this next heat is going to be great with Mick Campbell," said Fanning. "You just don't want to look forward when your surfing up against guys like that!"

Also excelling in the sunny peaks of Johanna was reigning and eight-time world champion Kelly Slater (USA).

He cruised through his heat against wildcard Nic Muscroft (AUS) locking in a high score of 9.0 out of 10.0 after flowing through some eye-pleasing re-entries. He then was on somewhat of a roll.

"I did happen to find a couple of really good waves," said Slater. "I had a bit of a flurry there, I had three waves in about three, four, five minutes."

Obviously aiming for a win Slater, has not only ringing the prestigious Rip Curl Pro bell trophy in the back of his mind, he also has former ASP World Champion Tom Curren's (USA) record of 33 events wins dangling in front of him.

This is the only record Slater is yet to beat and he is poised in equal place with Curren as he also has 33 wins.

"It will be at every event until I get it!" said Slater. "Whether it be this one or some time in the future… I was thinking about it yesterday and a little bit the day before, just thinking, 'okay, I'm ready to try and get that win'. I have been close…It's not easy to win a contest."

Slater will now take on Travis Logie (ZAF) in round four – a surfer who Slater holds in high regard after Logie almost upset his world title campaign in 2005 when he beat Slater in Brazil.

"I think Travis's backhand is the best part of his surfing," said Slater. "He's good at getting a lot of turns in, in such a small little area. You have to be careful to make sure that he is not getting the better waves."

Logie meanwhile squeaked through his heat against a very determined Raoni Monteiro (BRA), emerging from the water with a grin that was more from relief than victorious jubilation.

The young South African, who was in the first heat of the day, found it tough to get his sea legs after the long drive down the coast in the early hours of the morning.

"It's quite gnarly doing a two hour drive and be in the first heat of the morning," said Logie. "You have to wake up super early and get down here. You don't want that drive to be for nothing, so I'm super stoked. It was a real nail biter."

For Logie making it though the heat was a personal milestone.

"It's my third year here and I hadn't made it though a heat until this year," said Logie. "I'm going to have Kelly Slater in my next heat… so hopefully I can get through that one as well!"

For Andy Irons (HAW) the day was also a success after he downed talented Brazilian Rodrigo Dornelles.

Irons, whose start to the year was plagued by illness, leading to a poor result on the Gold Coast, is back to his best form and is focussed to go all the way.

"It's very important to get a result here," said Irons. "There is only 10 events this year and my first result is a throw away, so for me it's very important. If I don't get to a couple of finals or even the quarters or better then it could be possible that a shot for the title is out of the question because the good guys have already done well."

Irons has already rung the "Bell" twice, but confirmed that to claim a third title would be a real honor. He knows however he has to focus on the job at hand.

"I would love to ring a Bell," continued Irons. "It would be a dream, but there's a lot of hard work ahead. I can't really think about that too much right now."

With the forecast indicating an increase in swell tonight it is hoped that the Rip Curl Pro will return to its spiritual base of Bells Beach come tomorrow morning.

A call will be made at 7am for a possible 7.30am start.

Today's Results: (1st to round 4; 2nd receives 17th place and 410 ratings points)

Heat 7: Travis Logie (ZAF) 13.94 def Raoni Monteiro (BRA) 13.50
Heat 8: Kelly Slater (USA) 17.00 def. Nic Muscroft (AUS) 11.84
Heat 9: Andy Irons (HAW) def Rodrigo Dornelles (BRA)
Heat 10: Ben Dunn (AUS) 13.67 def. Jeremy Flores (FRA) 12.27
Heat 11: Damien Hobgood (USA) 13.37 def. Mark Occhilupo (AUS) 10.20
Heat 12: Fred Patacchia (HAW) 14.17 def. Phil Macdonald (AUS) 13.73
Heat 13: Mick Fanning (AUS) 18.66 def. Bernardo Pigmeu (BRA) 12.26
Heat 14: Mick Campbell (AUS) 13.50 def Adriano de Souza (BRA) 13.17
Heat 15: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 13.60 def Adrian Buchan (AUS) 13.03
Heat 16: Bruce Irons (HAW) 14.00 def. Ricky Basnett (ZAF) 10.50

Round Four Heat Draw:

Heat 1: Royden Bryson (ZAF) vs Bede Durbidge (AUS)
Heat 2: Danny Wills (AUS) vs Taj Burrow (AUS)
Heat 3: Tom Whitaker (AUS) vs Leonardo Neves (BRA)
Heat 4: Travis Logie (ZAF) vs Kelly Slater (USA)
Heat 5: Andy Irons (HAW) vs Ben Dunn (AUS)
Heat 6: Damien Hobgood (USA) vs Fred Patacchia (HAW)
Heat 7: Mick Fanning (AUS) vs Mick Campbell (AUS)
Heat 8: Joel Parkinson (AUS) vs Bruce Irons (HAW)

RIP CURL PRO ROUND THREE TO RESTART AT 9AM AT JOHANNA

BELLS BEACH, Australia (Tuesday, Apr. 10, 2007) – Competitors in and organisers of the Rip Curl Pro presented by Snickers arrived at Bells Beach Australia at first light this morning to find small and unrideable waves for the second day in a row.

And with "surf spotters" all the way up and down the coast on the lookout for the best conditions available, it was decided by Contest Director and former two time World Champion Damien Hardman that the event, stop two on the Foster's ASP World Tour, will once again pack up shop and head back down along the scenic Great Ocean Road to yesterday's venue of Johanna.

Ben Matson from www.swellnet.com.au indicated similar conditions to those of yesterday where fun head high beach break peaks greeted the competitors.

It is hoped that the first heat of the day (HEAT 7 of ROUND THREE) will get underway at 9am local time.

For all the LIVE ACTION and updates throughout the day head to www.aspworldtour.com or www.ripcurl.com

Included will be downloadable and transcribed athlete quotes, heat-by-heat rundowns plus video highlights.

The remaining heats for round three will include:

HEAT 7: Travis Logie (ZAF) vs Raoni Monteiro (BRA)
HEAT 8: Kelly Slater (USA) vs Nic Muscroft (AUS)
HEAT 9: Andy Irons (HAW) vs Rodrigo Dornelles (BRA)
HEAT 10: Ben Dunn (AUS) vs Jeremy Flores (FRA)
HEAT 11: Damien Hobgood (USA) vs Mark Occhilupo (AUS)
HEAT 12: Phil Macdonald (AUS) vs Fred Patacchia (HAW)
HEAT 13: Mick Fanning (AUS) vs Bernado Pigmeu (BRA)
HEAT 14: Mick Campbell (AUS) vs Adriano de Souza (BRA)
HEAT 15: Joel Parkinson (AUS) vs Adrian Buchan (AUS)
HEAT 16: Bruce Irons (HAW) vs Ricky Basnett (ZAF)

Round three results from yesterday:

HEAT 1: Royden Bryson (ZAF) def. Bobby Martinez (USA)
HEAT 2: Bede Durbidge (AUS) def Pancho Sullivan (HAW)
HEAT 3: Danny Wills (AUS) def Chris Ward (USA)
HEAT 4: Taj Burrow (AUS) def Dayyan Neve (AUS)
HEAT 5: Tom Whitaker (AUS) def. Mick Lowe (AUS)
HEAT 6: Leonard Neves (BRA) def. Dean Morrison (AUS)

RIP CURL PRO CHASES SWELL DOWN THE GREAT OCEAN ROAD

BELLS BEACH, Australia (Monday, Apr. 9, 2007) –The Rip Curl Pro presented by Snickers relocated two and a half hours south of Bells Beach to Johanna Beach for Round 2 and the first six heats of Round 3 today.

More than half of the 22 heats run in the clean four foot (1.2 metre) waves were won by less than a point – a testament to the high caliber closely-matched competition on this year's Foster's ASP World Tour roster.

Rookie Ben Dunn (AUS) earned the day's highest wave score (9.50 out of 10.00) and heat total (17.00 out of 20.00) to beat Troy Brooks (AUS) in Round 2. Dunn posted an equal 5th finish in the first event of the year, and like fellow rookies Royden Bryson (ZAF), Ricky Basnett (AUS) and Jeremy Flores (FRA), is still in contention to do damage at the Rip Curl Pro.

"After my 9.50 Troy needed a combination score so I thought I was pretty safe," Dunn said. "Then he got an 8.90 straight away and only needed an 8.00 after that. I was still thinking he could get the score, even in those little waves, because he pulls those 'Supermans' and crazy reverses all the time. I definitely wasn't happy with my score line until the end."

Mark 'Occy' Occhilupo, who won the Rip Curl Pro at Bells Beach in 1998, was very happy with his scoreline and Round 2 victory over rookie Kai Otton (AUS) today. At 41 years of age, Occhilupo is the most seasoned surfer on tour. He put his experience and wave knowledge to good use today.

"Johanna is a right-hander and a bit fat but it's got good shape – I wouldn't say that it's similar to Bells but it has similarities," Occhilupo said. "I went out there trying to surf it like Bells and use my Bells knowledge in these waves and that worked well."

After a disappointing equal 33rd placing on the Gold Coast last month, Occhilupo was thrilled to advance through to Round 3. If he has it his way, we'll be back at Bells Beach when competition next resumes.

"I hang to surf the Bowl but sometimes you can't have it and you have to get through the event," Occhilupo said. "When you've had a long break and done a bit of work you start to doubt yourself when you don't win a heat for a while but I've been competing for so long that I know you just have to ride it through those times and it usually comes back. Hopefully I can turn it around and start winning some more heats."

Also employing local knowledge was wildcard Nic Muscroft (AUS) who earned an upset victory over tour veteran Taylor Knox (AUS). The Torquay surfer is the only local competitor in the event.

"I reckon there's local knowledge involved," Muscroft said. "I surfed this bank just last weekend, so I'm pretty happy I did that. I was stoked when they made the call to move to Johanna because I knew the wave would be a little trickier with little rips running through and that it would help me because Taylor rips and it made it a bit harder for him."

Muscroft won the Victoria The Place To Be Trials to earn his third wildcard into the Rip Curl Pro – this is the first time he has advanced out of Round 2.

"I've had a bad start to the year on the World Qualifying Series (WQS) so beating Taylor gives me a whole lot of confidence," Muscroft said. "I know that I can do it now, which is really good."

Also scoring an upset win in the first heat of Round 3 was South African Ricky Basnett. Basnett beat 2006 Rookie of the Year and last year's world No. 5 Bobby Martinez (USA) by four tenths of a point.

"Bobby's one of my favorite surfers so I just had to put my head down," Basnett said. "Watching the heat before I knew I needed to get the bigger waves and do bigger turns. Fortunately the last wave I got was better than Bobby's and that's what it came down to, a better wave than what Bobby's was, so I'm stoked."

Taj Burrow (AUS) surfed well to take out rookie Dayyan Neve (AUS) in their late afternoon match-up. Neve earned a Round 2 bye with the withdrawal of expectant father Greg Emslie (ZAF) but ran out of luck in Round 3.

Burrow earned two 8.0 plus wave scores and is on track to post another great result at the Rip Curl Pro – wherever it is run.

"I feel comfortable where ever they have the contest," Burrow said. "I would prefer to have it at the Bowl really, just because it is such a good spot with the amphitheatre and the whole vibe with all the spectators, but Johanna is good too because there are so many banks down here and I love this beach."

Contest officials will assess conditions at both Bells Beach and Johanna tomorrow morning before making a call on competition status at 6:30am for a 9am start. It is highly likely that the rest of Round 3 and Round 4 will run tomorrow.

Transcribed athlete interviews, audio files, hi-res images and television news feed details as well as heat by heat info are available at www.aspworldtour.com and www.ripcurl.com/ripcurlpro.

Rip Curl Pro at Bells Beach Round 3 Results – 1st advances to Round 4, 2nd finishes equal 17th
Heat 1: Royden Bryson (ZAF) 15.50 def. Bobby Martinez (USA) 15.10
Heat 2: Bede Durbidge (AUS) 12.50 def. Pancho Sullivan (HAW) 11.17
Heat 3: Daniel Wills (AUS) 14.67def. Chris Ward (USA) 10.50
Heat 4: Taj Burrow (AUS) 16.60 def. Dayyan Neve (AUS) 11.34
Heat 5: Tom Whitaker (AUS) def. Michael Lowe (AUS) 12.50
Heat 6: Leonardo Neves (BRA) 13.10 def. Dean Morrison (AUS) 12.90

Remaining Rip Curl Pro at Bells Beach Round 3 Match-ups
Heat 7: Travis Logie (ZAF) vs. Raioni Monteiro
Heat 8: Kelly Slater (USA) vs. Nic Muscroft (AUS)
Heat 9: Andy Irons (HAW) vs. Rodrigo Dornelles (BRA)
Heat 10: Ben Dunn (AUS) vs. Jeremy Flores (FRA)
Heat 11: Damien Hobgood (USA) vs. Mark Occhilupo (AUS)
Heat 12: Phillip Macdonald (AUS) vs. Frederick Pattachia (HAW)
Heat 13: Mick Fanning (AUS) vs. Bernardo Pigmeau (BRA)
Heat 14: Michael Campbell (AUS) vs. Adriano de Souza (BRA)
Heat 15: Joel Parkinson (AUS) vs. Adrian Buchan (AUS)
Heat 16: Bruce Irons (HAW) vs. Ricky Basnett (ZAF)

Rip Curl Pro at Bells Beach Round 2 Results – 1st advances to Round 3, 2nd finishes equal 33rd
HEAT 1: Bobby Martinez (USA) 11.66 def. Owen Wright (AUS) 11.17
HEAT 2: Damien Hobgood (USA) 15.76 def. Matt Wilkinson (AUS) 15.10
HEAT 3: Nic Muscroft (AUS) 15.34 def. Taylor Knox (USA) 10.47
HEAT 4: Dean Morrison (AUS) 12.17 def. Luke Munro (AUS) 11.23
HEAT 5: Rodrigo Dornelles (BRA) 12.67 def. Cory Lopez (USA) 12.30
HEAT 6: Phillip MacDonald 11.70 def. Gabe Kling (USA) 10.80
HEAT 7: Bernardo Pigmeau (BRA) 15.50 def. CJ Hobgood (USA) 14.33
HEAT 8: Mick Campbell (AUS) 14.56 def. Neco Padaratz (BRA) 14.53
HEAT 10: Royden Bryson (ZAF) 14.00 def. Josh Kerr (AUS) 12.87
HEAT 11: Ben Dunn (AUS) 17.00 def. Troy Brooks (AUS) 13.00
HEAT 12: Raoni Monteiro (BRA) 13.17 def. Victor Ribas (BRA) 12.33
HEAT 13: Mark Occhilupo (AUS) 16.33 def. Kai Otton (AUS) 12.43
HEAT 14: Michael Lowe 14.43 (AUS) def. Luke Stedman (AUS) 13.16
HEAT 15: Ricky Basnett (ZAF) 11.83 def. Trent Munro (AUS) 5.34
HEAT 16: Frederick Pattachia (HAW) 16.60 def. Shaun Cansdell (AUS) 14.33

RIP CURL PRO HEADS DOWN THE GREAT OCEAN ROAD

GREAT OCEAN ROAD, Australia (Monday, Apr. 9, 2007) – Showing absolute dedication to finding only the best waves to run the event, organisers of the Rip Curl Pro presented by Snickers have packed up and headed away from the event's traditional base of Bells Beach and have headed two and a half hour's drive down the Great Ocean Road to the beach breaks of Johanna.

Johanna, a regular backup location on offer if the Bells Beach area is affected by a lack of swell, provides some fun shifting peaks which today will provide a fantastic canvas for those competing in round two.

With the waiting period extending to the April 13 and with three days needed to find a Rip Curl Pro winner, the event crew were always prepared to do whatever it took to ensure the world's best surfers on the Foster's ASP World Tour enjoyed only quality waves.

"This event is all about the surfers," said Rip Curl spokesman Neil Ridgway. "And we'll do whatever we can to make sure they get to surf this event in only the best waves on offer."

Conditions pending, round two will wrap up today.

Rip Curl Pro presented by Snickers Round 2 Match-ups
HEAT 1: Bobby Martinez (USA) vs. Owen Wright (AUS)
HEAT 2: Damien Hobgood (USA) vs. Matt Wilkinson (AUS)
HEAT 3: Taylor Knox (USA) def. Nic Muscroft (AUS)
HEAT 4: Dean Morrison (AUS) vs. Luke Munro (AUS)
HEAT 5: Cory Lopez (USA) vs. Rodrigo Dornelles (BRA)
HEAT 6: Phillip Macdonald (AUS) vs. Gabe Kling (USA)
HEAT 7: CJ Hobgood (USA) vs. Bernardo Pigmeu (BRA)
HEAT 8: Michael Campbell (AUS) vs. Neco Padaratz (BRA)
HEAT 9: Greg Emslie (ZAF) vs. Dayyan Neve (AUS)
HEAT 10: Josh Kerr (AUS) vs. Royden Bryson (ZAF)
HEAT 11: Ben Dunn (AUS) vs. Troy Brooks (AUS)
HEAT 12: Raoni Monteiro (BRA) vs. Victor Ribas (BRA)
HEAT 13: Kai Otton (AUS) vs. Mark Occhilupo (AUS)
HEAT 14: Luke Stedman (AUS) vs. Michael Lowe (AUS)
HEAT 15: Ricky Basnett (ZAF) vs. Trent Munro (AUS)
HEAT 16: Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) vs. Shaun Cansdell (AUS)

TOP 45 TO TAKE EASTER OFF AT THE RIP CURL PRO AT BELLS BEACH

BELLS BEACH, Australia (Sunday, Apr. 8, 2007) – There will be a whole lot of action at Bells Beach today, just very little of the surfing variety. Very small waves have prompted event officials to call an Easter Sunday lay day for the second stop on the Foster's ASP World Tour, the Rip Curl Pro presented by Snickers, today.

The Rip Curl Pro Music Festival will take center stage from 10am to 5pm while preparations to possibly run Round 2 of the Rip Curl Pro at Johanna Beach (a venue two hours west of Bells)tomorrow are made. There are five more days in the event waiting period and three full days of surfing remain.

The first heat to hit the water when competition does recommence will be 2006 Rookie of the Year Bobby Martinez (USA) versus Rip Curl Pro Wildcard Owen Wright (AUS). Another call will be made tomorrow morning at 7am.

Transcribed athlete interviews, audio files, hi-res images and television news feed details as well as heat by heat info are available at www.aspworldtour.com and www.ripcurl.com/ripcurlpro.

Rip Curl Pro presented by Snickers Round 2 Match-ups
HEAT 1: Bobby Martinez (USA) vs. Owen Wright (AUS)
HEAT 2: Damien Hobgood (USA) vs. Matt Wilkinson (AUS)
HEAT 3: Taylor Knox (USA) def. Nic Muscroft (AUS)
HEAT 4: Dean Morrison (AUS) vs. Luke Munro (AUS)
HEAT 5: Cory Lopez (USA) vs. Rodrigo Dornelles (BRA)
HEAT 6: Phillip Macdonald (AUS) vs. Gabe Kling (USA)
HEAT 7: CJ Hobgood (USA) vs. Bernardo Pigmeu (BRA)
HEAT 8: Michael Campbell (AUS) vs. Neco Padaratz (BRA)
HEAT 9: Greg Emslie (ZAF) vs. Dayyan Neve (AUS)
HEAT 10: Josh Kerr (AUS) vs. Royden Bryson (ZAF)
HEAT 11: Ben Dunn (AUS) vs. Troy Brooks (AUS)
HEAT 12: Raoni Monteiro (BRA) vs. Victor Ribas (BRA)
HEAT 13: Kai Otton (AUS) vs. Mark Occhilupo (AUS)
HEAT 14: Luke Stedman (AUS) vs. Michael Lowe (AUS)
HEAT 15: Ricky Basnett (ZAF) vs. Trent Munro (AUS)
HEAT 16: Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) vs. Shaun Cansdell (AUS)

LAY DAY FOR THE RIP CURL PRO AT BELLS BEACH

BELLS BEACH, Australia (Saturday, Apr. 7, 2007) –Small waves at Bells Beach have prompted event officials to hold off on running Round 2 of the Rip Curl Pro presented by Snickers today, Apr. 7, 2007.

According to Ben Matson from swellnet.com.au, small waves are expected on Saturday and Sunday, with a small new swell expected to build later Monday and into Tuesday.

While there won't be any Foster's ASP World Tour surfing at Bells Beach today, the Rip Curl Music Festival will be in full swing with bands taking the stage from 10am to 4:40pm.

The Rip Curl Women's Pro crowned Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) its champion yesterday.

Another call will be made tomorrow morning at 7am.

Transcribed athlete interviews, audio files, hi-res images and television news feed details as well as heat by heat info are available at www.aspworldtour.com and www.ripcurl.com/ripcurlpro.

Rip Curl Pro presented by Snickers Round 2 Match-ups
HEAT 1: Bobby Martinez (USA) vs. Owen Wright (AUS)
HEAT 2: Damien Hobgood (USA) vs. Matt Wilkinson (AUS)
HEAT 3: Taylor Knox (USA) def. Nic Muscroft (AUS)
HEAT 4: Dean Morrison (AUS) vs. Luke Munro (AUS)
HEAT 5: Cory Lopez (USA) vs. Rodrigo Dornelles (BRA)
HEAT 6: Phillip Macdonald (AUS) vs. Gabe Kling (USA)
HEAT 7: CJ Hobgood (USA) vs. Bernardo Pigmeu (BRA)
HEAT 8: Michael Campbell (AUS) vs. Neco Padaratz (BRA)
HEAT 9: Greg Emslie (ZAF) vs. Dayyan Neve (AUS)
HEAT 10: Josh Kerr (AUS) vs. Royden Bryson (ZAF)
HEAT 11: Ben Dunn (AUS) vs. Troy Brooks (AUS)
HEAT 12: Raoni Monteiro (BRA) vs. Victor Ribas (BRA)
HEAT 13: Kai Otton (AUS) vs. Mark Occhilupo (AUS)
HEAT 14: Luke Stedman (AUS) vs. Michael Lowe (AUS)
HEAT 15: Ricky Basnett (ZAF) vs. Trent Munro (AUS)
HEAT 16: Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) vs. Shaun Cansdell (AUS)

GILMORE RINGS THE BELL AND MOVES TO EQUAL FIRST ON ASP RATINGS

BELLS BEACH, Australia (Friday, Apr. 6, 2007) – ASP Women's World Tour Rookie Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) is on top of the world after winning the Rip Curl Women's Pro and her first victory as an elite tour surfer at Bells Beach today.

Gilmore's trouncing of defending Rip Curl Pro and 2004 World Champion Sofia Mulanovich (PER) in the Final has catapulted her to equal World No. 1 for the first time in her career. She shares the rating with 2005 World Champion Chelsea Hedges (AUS).

"I'm just over the moon, this is unbelievable," Gilmore said. "To compete against Sofia, a defending champ, in the final and manage to win means I'm back on track. To be World No. 1 next to Chels is amazing and exactly where I want to be."

Gilmore, who won two ASP Women's World Tour events as a wildcard before qualifying for the 2007 elite tour, has been vocal about her aspirations to earn a world title her first year on tour. She was disappointed to start that campaign with an equal 5th finish after being eliminated by Hedges in the Quarterfinals on the Gold Coast of Australia last month. Her Quarterfinal win over Hedges today puts the surfers at two wins apiece in elite tour competition.

"I was feeling pretty confident that once I had knocked off Chelsea I thought I could probably take it to the top," Gilmore said. "She's in great form, as are all the girls, but Chelsea was the biggest hurdle and I knew that if I could get over that then I could take this through to the final."

Gilmore trailed Mulanovich for the first half of the Final, but left the Peruvian needing a perfect 10.00 after posting the highest wave score of the entire event, a 9.33, with six minutes to go.

"It is always great to build up momentum going into the final, Gilmore said. "It's kind of hard because you want to go hard every heat, but in cold conditions you want to leave some energy and give 100 percent in the final. That was my game plan and it all worked."

Mulanovich, who 'rang the Bell' when the women's event was last held at Bells Beach in 2005, moved from equal 17th to World No. 3 with the Rip Curl Pro runner-up finish.

"Steph is such a great surfer and before my heat I was super nervous," Mulanovich said. "She's so amazing, just to watch her surf and see her score. I'm just stoked to make it to the final with her."

Mulanovich's final berth today was her first since 2005 when she won an ASP Women's World Tour event in England. She was not a factor in last year's world title race but is looking to be back in the mix in 2007.

"I was just happy making it heat by heat because I came dead last on the Gold Coast so to make the final was a great improvement," Mulanovich said. "My Gold Coast result was a throw away but I can still be in the running for the title. I just have to work on a few things and my nervousness. I'm a nervous wreck. I just need to work on that and have fun."

Mulanovich beat reigning world champion and three-time Rip Curl Pro at Bells Beach winner Layne Beachley (AUS) in the semifinals.

"I'm disappointed because I let a wave go and Sofia got a 5.90 under my priority with 18 minutes to go," Beachley said. "I thought I could afford to wait and it just didn't pay off – I played too much of the patience game. I started strong, I just wasn't able to capitalize from the start."

Beachley won her seventh world title last year and has cited upcoming talent such as Gilmore as a major motivation for staying on tour.

"It's not a bad result," Beachley said. "I was hoping to at least make the final. I really wanted to pay back Steph for beating me at my own event. I would love to get her at her sponsor's event. Even still, it's great that Rip Curl has brought us back here and hopefully I will be on tour long enough to win another Bell."

Samantha Cornish (AUS) also made a semifinal showing today but was easily eliminated by Gilmore in their wave-starved heat.

"Yeah it was definitely slow out there," Cornish said. "I was finding it hard to catch a wave for the first 15 minutes. Stephanie only had a 6.0 which was unfortunate because I could have had a chance – I just made several mistakes out there. You live and learn. It's a loss but it's a good result for me and I'm happy with that."

The women will not surf another ASP Women's World Tour event until August when they will head to Brazil.

Rip Curl Women's Pro Final Results:
HEAT 1: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 16.50 def. Sofia Mulanovich (PER) 11.93

Rip Curl Women's Pro Semifinal Results: 1st advances to Final, 2nd finishes equal 3rd
HEAT 1: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 15.17 def. Samantha Cornish (AUS) 5.94
HEAT 2: Sofia Mulanovich (PER) 11.50 def. Layne Beachley (AUS) 8.56

Rip Curl Women's Pro Quarterfinal Results: 1st advances to Semifinal, 2nd finishes equal 5th
HEAT 1: Samantha Cornish (AUS) 12.00 def. Jacqueline Silva (BRA) 7.16
HEAT 2: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 14.50 def. Chelsea Hedges (AUS) 12.17
HEAT 3: Layne Beachley (AUS) 13.00 def. Amee Donohoe (AUS) 12.67
HEAT 4: Sofia Mulanovich (PER) 12.50 def. Melanie Redman-Carr (AUS) 9.00

ASP Women's World Tour Ratings after the Rip Curl Women's Pro, Stop 2 of 7 on the ASP Women's World Tour
1. Chelsea Hedges (AUS) 1752 points
1. Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 1752 points
3. Sofia Mulanovich (PER) 1152 points
4. Layne Beachley (AUS) 1116 points
4. Rebecca Woods (AUS) 1116 points
4. Silvana Lima (BRA) 1116 points
4. Samantha Cornish (AUS) 1116 points
8. Melanie Redman-Carr (AUS) 1104 points
8. Amee Donohoe (AUS) 1104 points
10. Megan Abubo (HAW) 912 points
10. Jacqueline Silva (BRA) 912 points
12. Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS) 720 points
12. Claire Bevilacqua (AUS) 720 points
12. Melanie Bartels (HAW) 720 points
12. Caroline Sarran (FRA) 720 points
17. Rosanne Hodge (ZAF) 360 points

RIP CURL WOMEN'S PRO CHAMPION TO BE CROWNED TODAY

BELLS BEACH, Australia (Friday, Apr. 6, 2007) – The Rip Curl Women's Pro will crown a champion today. Nine ASP Women's World Tour surfers are still in contention – one will 'ring the bell' after they contest the three foot (one metre) waves on offer at Bells Beach this morning.

The remaining heat of Round 3, featuring Megan Abubo (HAW) and Amee Donohoe (AUS) will hit the water at 7:30am. The heat was postponed two days ago so that Donohoe could undergo precautionary medical testing – she was given the all-clear.

The Quarterfinals of the Rip Curl Women's Pro will hit the water at around 8am and the event Final will run around midday.

The Foster's ASP World Tour surfers are on standby for a possible Rip Curl Pro Round 2 start this morning. Conditions will be assessed throughout the morning and a decision will be made after the women's event is wrapped.

Rip Curl Women's Pro Round Three Match-ups
HEAT 6: Megan Abubo (HAW) vs. Amee Donohoe (AUS)

Rip Curl Women's Pro Quarterfinal Match-ups
HEAT 1: Jacqueline Silva (BRA) vs. Samantha Cornish (AUS)
HEAT 2: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) vs. Chelsea Hedges (AUS)
HEAT 3: Layne Beachley (AUS) vs. TBC
HEAT 4: Sofia Mulanovich (PER) vs. Melanie Redman-Carr (AUS)

Rip Curl Pro presented by Snickers Round 2 Match-ups
HEAT 1: Bobby Martinez (USA) vs. Owen Wright (AUS)
HEAT 2: Damien Hobgood (USA) vs. Matt Wilkinson (AUS)
HEAT 3: Taylor Knox (USA) def. Nic Muscroft (AUS)
HEAT 4: Dean Morrison (AUS) vs. Luke Munro (AUS)
HEAT 5: Cory Lopez (USA) vs. Rodrigo Dornelles (BRA)
HEAT 6: Phillip Macdonald (AUS) vs. Gabe Kling (USA)
HEAT 7: CJ Hobgood (USA) vs. Bernardo Pigmeu (BRA)
HEAT 8: Michael Campbell (AUS) vs. Neco Padaratz (BRA)
HEAT 9: Greg Emslie (ZAF) vs. Dayyan Neve (AUS)
HEAT 10: Josh Kerr (AUS) vs. Royden Bryson (ZAF)
HEAT 11: Ben Dunn (AUS) vs. Troy Brooks (AUS)
HEAT 12: Raoni Monteiro (BRA) vs. Victor Ribas (BRA)
HEAT 13: Kai Otton (AUS) vs. Mark Occhilupo (AUS)
HEAT 14: Luke Stedman (AUS) vs. Michael Lowe (AUS)
HEAT 15: Ricky Basnett (ZAF) vs. Trent Munro (AUS)
HEAT 16: Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) vs. Shaun Cansdell (AUS)

NO MEN’S OR WOMEN’S RIP CURL PRO ACTION AT BELLS BEACH TODAY

BELLS BEACH, Australia (Thursday, Apr. 5, 2007) – Declining swell at Bells Beach has prompted event organizers to call a lay day for the men's and women's Rip Curl Pro today, Thursday, April 5, 2007.

A significant portion of the Rip Curl Women's Pro was run yesterday and only seven heats of competition remain. The women's waiting period ends on April 8, while the men's reaches to April 13.

Round 1 of the men's event was run in its entirety on April 3, the first day of the waiting period. Up next for the men will be the first elimination round which features surfers who finished 2nd and 3rd in their Round 1 heats. Surfers who won their Round 1 heats advance straight to Round 3.

A small increase in swell is forecast to arrive tomorrow and another call on competition status will be made tomorrow morning at 7am.

MULANOVICH ON TRACK TO DEFEND RIP CURL WOMEN'S PRO TITLE

BELLS BEACH, Australia (Wednesday, Apr. 4, 2007) – Reigning Rip Curl Women's Pro Champion Sofia Mulanovich (PER) showed the world she's shown up to defend her 2005 Bells Beach title today.

Advancing to the Quarterfinals after Rounds 1, 2 and 3 of the Rip Curl Women's Pro were run in three foot (one metre) waves at Bells Beach today, the 2004 World Champion is relieved to be back on track after finishing last in the first event of the year on the Gold Coast.

"I'm pretty stoked – it feels good," Mulanovich said. "I haven't really been doing that well lately, so it just feels good to get good scores and make it to the quarterfinals."

Tying Silvana Lima (BRA) for the highest heat total of both the men and women's event with 17.17 out of 20.00 possible points, Mulanovich beat Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS) in Round 3 with her two 8.0 plus wave scores.

"I was just trying to do anything powerful out there," Mulanovich said. "I really love these waves and I feel like I can surf them well. I haven't won a contest in a while and I feel confident and like my surfing is better than ever so I just want to go out there and try my best."

High-profile rookie Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) eliminated Claire Bevilacqua (AUS) after earning a 9.00 wave score under Bevilacqua's priority in Round 3 (NB: priority refers to the surfer's entitlement to right-of-way on waves coming through the contest zone – the other surfer can only take off on waves the surfer with priority chooses not to).

"Claire actually had priority and I got that wave from right under her nose," Gilmore said. "She was a little bit too deep and there was a bit of a ledge so I just got onto it and managed to do heaps of cutbacks."

Gilmore will now meet current world No. 1 and 2005 World Champion Chelsea Hedges (AUS) in the Quarterfinals for the second time this year.

"Yeah it's a tough draw in Chelsea and I knew that it was going to kind of pan out like that for a few events at the beginning of the year, but that's just life." Gilmore said. "Chelsea smashed me on the Gold Coast so hopefully I can get some pay back here."

Hedges won the first event of the year on Australia's Gold Coast but is still wary of her good friend Gilmore who, despite being an elite tour rookie, won two ASP Women's World Tour events as a wildcard.

"It's kind of a bummer that we are meeting up again in the Quarters," Hedges said. "For sure she's going to be looking to get back at me. I owe her a few so I'm not going to go down easy. Hopefully we get a few good waves and get to do some good surfing."

Also earning a Quarterfinal berth after eliminating French rookie Caroline Sarran is seven-time world champion Layne Beachley (AUS). Beachley finished equal 9th on the Gold Coast when she was beaten by 14-year-old wildcard Carissa Moore (HAW) and was pleased to better that result at Bells today.

"It's nice to be in the Quarterfinals after such a shocking start at the Gold Coast event," Beachley, who has won the Rip Curl Pro three times, said. "It's rewarding to be in the Quarters down at Bells – it's one of my favorite events."

Officials postponed Heat 6 of Round 3 featuring Amee Donohoe (AUS) and Megan Abubo (HAW) after Donohoe was advised seek additional medical attention before competing in her next heat.

Donohoe surfed Rounds 1 and 2, but showing signs of poor health, fatigue and swollen glands, consulted onsite health practitioners prior to her Round 3 heat. Her symptoms, combined with longer-term health issues prompted Dr. Gerald Busch and Dr. Paul Bloomfield to recommend additional testing at nearby Geelong hospital.

"While it may be turn out to be nothing serious, we can't ignore the recommendations of two qualified medical practitioners," Karen Green, ASP Women's Tour Manager, said.

Pending medical results, Donohoe and Abubo's heat will run when the Rip Curl Women's Pro reconvenes. A call on competition status will be made tomorrow morning at 7am.

Log on to www.aspworldtour.com and www.ripcurlpro.com to watch it all LIVE!

Rip Curl Women's Pro Round Three Results: 1st advances to Quarterfinals; 2nd finishes equal 9th
HEAT 1: Jacqueline Silva (BRA) 14.33 def. Rebecca Woods (AUS) 7.34
HEAT 2: Samantha Cornish (AUS) 12.67def. Silvana Lima (BRA) 9.00
HEAT 3: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 17.00 def. Claire Bevilacqua (AUS) 8.00
HEAT 4: Chelsea Hedges (AUS) 13.50 def. Rosanne Hodge (ZAF) 9.67
HEAT 5: Layne Beachley (AUS) 15.00 def. Caroline Sarran (FRA) 12.10
HEAT 7: Sofia Mulanovich (PER) 17.17def. Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS) 11.67
HEAT 8: Melanie Redman-Carr (AUS) 10.56 def. Melanie Bartels (HAW) 8.34

Rip Curl Women's Pro Round Two Results: 1st and 2nd advance to Round 3; 3rd finishes equal 17th
HEAT 1: Jacqueline Silva (BRA) 11.50, Melanie Redman-Carr (AUS) 10.83, Amy Stewart (AUS) 5.57
HEAT 2: Rebecca Woods (AUS) 13.00, Claire Bevilacqua (AUS) 9.50, Rochelle Ballard (HAW) 6.90

Rip Curl Women's Pro Round One Results: 1st and 2nd advance to Round 3; 3rd must surf Round 2
HEAT 1: Silvana Lima (BRA) 17.17, Melanie Bartels (HAW) 13.00, Claire Bevilacqua (AUS) 12.07
HEAT 2: Rebecca Woods (AUS), Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), Caroline Sarran (FRA)
HEAT 3: Chelsea Hedges (AUS), Samantha Cornish (AUS), Amy Stewart (AUS)
HEAT 4: Layne Beachley (AUS), Sofia Mulanovich (PER), Rochelle Ballard (HAW)
HEAT 5: Melanie Redman-Carr (AUS), Amee Donohoe (AUS), Rosanne Hodge (ZAF)
HEAT 6: Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS), Megan Abubo (HAW), Jacqueline Silva (BRA)

RIP CURL WOMEN'S PRO TO RUN SIXTEEN HEATS TODAY

BELLS BEACH, Australia (Wednesday, Apr. 4, 2007) – The ASP Women's World Tour field will be whittled from 18 to 8 with the running of Rounds 1, 2 &3 of the Rip Curl Women's Pro today.

The competition will commence in three foot (one metre) waves at Bells Beach at 7:30am. First up is Silvana Lima of Brazil, Claire Bevilacqua of Australia and Melanie Bartels of Hawaii. First and second will advance to Round 3 while the third place surfer in Round 1 must negotitate Round 2.

Three-time Bells Beach champion Layne Beachley (AUS) and defending champion Sofia Mulanovich (PER) will surf with tour veteran Rochelle Ballard in Heat 4 of Round 1.

RIP CURL WOMEN'S PRO BELLS BEACH ROUND ONE MATCH-UPS
HEAT 1: Silvana Lima (BRA), Claire Bevilacqua (AUS), Melanie Bartels (HAW)
HEAT 2: Rebecca Woods (AUS), Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), Caroline Sarran (FRA)
HEAT 3: Chelsea Hedges (AUS), Samantha Cornish (AUS), Amy Stewart (AUS)
HEAT 4: Layne Beachley (AUS), Sofia Mulanovich (PER), Rochelle Ballard (HAW)
HEAT 5: Melanie Redman-Carr (AUS), Amee Donohoe (AUS), Rosanne Hodge (ZAF)
HEAT 6: Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS), Megan Abubo (HAW), Jacqueline Silva (BRA)

USUAL SUSPECTS DOMINATE DAY ONE OF THE RIP CURL PRO AT BELLS BEACH

BELLS BEACH, Australia (Tuesday, Apr. 3, 2007) –Round 1 of the Rip Curl Pro presented by Snickers saw proven Bells Beach performers dominate proceedings in the four to six foot (one to one half metre) and slightly onshore conditions on offer today.

Former champions and perennial Top 5 Foster's ASP World Tour surfers Kelly Slater (USA), Andy Irons (HAW), Joel Parkinson (AUS) and Mick Fanning (AUS) made their way through the opening round of the event with ease and will advance straight to Round 3.

Slater and Parkinson, both of whom made the Rip Curl Pro final last year, tied for the day's highest single wave score: 9.17 out of 10.00. Slater may have come out on top last year, but the eight-time world champ pointed to Parkinson as the surfer to beat after watching him the heat before.

"He did a really nice cutback to finish his 9.17 off," Slater said. "He disappeared going back into the white water and then flew out again – it was a good ride. Parko has got to expect to do well here, if you look at his record in the past five years – it's better then anybody's."

Parkinson, who won the Rip Curl Pro in 2004, finished equal 5th in the first event of the year on the Gold Coast and is looking to back up that result with a similar or better finish at Bells.

"I definitely consider this event one of my strengths and I love surfing down here," Parkinson said. "Every year I seem to pull a result out of here. I can't count my chickens yet but I'll try my hardest."

Also trying hard to back up his No. 1 finish on the season opener is 2001 Rip Curl Pro Champion Fanning. Posting the highest heat score of the day (17.00 out of 20.00), Fanning's total equaled the sum of his competitors' with local wildcard Nic Muscroft (AUS) earning 10.00 out of 20.00 and Josh Kerr (AUS) posting 7.00 out of a possible 20.00 points.

Fanning and Kerr met in the Quarterfinals of the Gold Coast event last month and, between the two of them, put together one of the highest scoring heats in professional surfing history. Fanning narrowly won the heat and went on to win the event. He rode that confidence into his Round 1 romp with Kerr today.

"I just treated Kerr like anybody else," Fanning said. "That one heat on the Gold Coast was pretty incredible but I just went out there and did what I'd normally do against anyone else today – it didn't really bother me."

In a polar-opposite scenario, Irons finished last in the season opener and didn't take any chances in his heat against wildcard Matt Wilkinson (AUS). [NB: Greg Emslie, who was also seeded to surf in Irons and Wilkinson's heat, missed Round 1 due to the impending birth of his first child. Emslie will still try to make it to Bells to surf Round 2].

"It was really important for me to avoid Round 2 today," Irons said. "There was about two minutes left and Wilkinson needed a 7.00. I wasn't going to give him any chances. I paddled up the point so he wouldn't get a wave underneath me. Things happen, and it's happened to me before so I wasn't going to give him a chance to get through."
Current World No. 3 Taj Burrow (AUS) squeaked through his heat over rookies Luke Munro (AUS) and Ben Dunn (AUS) today with a last minute victory today.

"I'm lucky to come out with a win in that heat," Burrow said. "It was chunky and just hard to find a clean face to get some nice turns off. I fell a couple of times and just struggled to find that right wave. It was really close and those guys were surfing really good; it was a nail biter for me that's for sure."

Also straight to Round 3 is Bede Durbidge (AUS) who finished runner-up to Fanning on the Gold Coast. Durbidge used the momentum from that result to blast past Hawaii's Fred Pattachia and crowd favorite and former Bells Beach winner Mark Occhilupo (AUS).

"I'm still the dark horse; everybody still treats me the same" Durbidge said. "I have no sponsor so I'm just going to keep working and keep climbing those ratings. It's so prestigious this comp; it would be awesome to get on that podium and ring that Bell."

French rookie Jeremy Flores, Brazilians Adriano de Souza and Leonardo Neves and Travis Logie of South Africa also advanced through their Round 1 heats today.

Rip Curl Pro at Bells Beach Round 1 Results – 1st advances to Round 3, 2nd and 3rd surf Round 2
Heat 1: Chris Ward (USA) 14.33; Dean Morrison (AUS) 11.10; Royden Bryson (ZAF) 8.67
Heat 2: Adriano de Souza (BRA) 14.50; Taylor Knox (USA) 11.24; Dayyan Neve (AUS) 8.83
Heat 3: Tom Whitaker (AUS) 12.50; Kai Otton (AUS) 8.00; Neco Padaratz (BRA) DNS
Heat 4: Jeremy Flores (FRA) 13.66; Damien Hobgood (USA) 11.77; Bernado Pigmeu (BRA) 9.13
Heat 5: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 15.67; Raoni Monteiro (BRA) 14.44; Gabe Kling (USA) 10.84
Heat 6: Travis Logie (ZAF) 12.67; Rodrigo Dornelles (BRA) 10.83; Bobby Martinez (USA) 8.50
Heat 7: Taj Burrow (AUS) 13.36; Luke Munro (AUS) 12.67; Ben Dunn (AUS) 11.17
Heat 8: Kelly Slater (USA) 16.84; Mick Campbell (AUS) 9.17; Owen Wright (AUS) 6.00
Heat 9: Andy Irons (HAW) 13.66; Matt Wilkinson (AUS) 12.07; Greg Emslie (ZAF) DNS
Heat 10: Mick Fanning (AUS) 17.00; Nic Muscroft (AUS) 10.00; Josh Kerr (AUS) 7.00
Heat 11: Adrian Buchan (AUS) 11.00; Cory Lopez (USA) 10.17; Luke Stedman (AUS) 7.84
Heat 12: Pancho Sullivan (HAW) 12.93; Phil MacDonald (AUS) 12.84; Troy Brooks (AUS) 11.27
Heat 13: Bruce Irons (HAW) 14.23; Ricky Basnett (ZAF) 10.83; Victor Ribas (BRA) 6.10
Heat 14: Bede Durbidge (AUS) 16.33; Fred Patacchia (HAW) 12.10; Mark Occhilupo (AUS) 11.16
Heat 15: Leonardo Neves (BRA) 13.16; CJ Hobgood (USA) 12.07; Mick Lowe (AUS) 6.13
Heat 16: Danny Wills (AUS) 15.93; Shaun Cansdell (AUS) 8.03; Trent Munro (AUS) 4.17

FOSTER'S 45 SURFING ROUND ONE OF THE RIP CURL PRO TODAY

BELLS BEACH, Australia (Tuesday, Apr. 3, 2007) – Round 1 of stop No. 2 on the Foster's ASP World Tour, the Rip Curl Pro presented by Snickers, will commence at Bells Beach at 7:30am today.

Contest officials will take advantage of the four to six foot (one half to three metre) sets rolling through Bells Bowl and run the first 16 heats of the men's competition today.

First up will be Dean Morrison (AUS), Chris Ward (USA) and Royden Bryson (ZAF). Check the draw below for a full list of today's lineup!

RIP CURL PRO ROUND 1 MATCH-UPS
HEAT 1: Dean Morrison (AUS), Chris Ward (USA), Royden Bryson (ZAF)
HAET 2: Taylor Knox (USA), Adriano de Souza (BRA), Davyan Neeve (AUS)
HEAT 3: Tom Whitaker (AUS), Kai Otton (AUS), Neco Padaratz (BRA)
HEAT 4: Damien Hobgood (USA), Jeremy Flores (FRA), Bernardo Miranda (BRA)
HEAT 5: Joel Parkinson (AUS), Raoni Monteiro (BRA), Gabe Kling (USA)
HEAT 6: Bobby Martinez (USA), Travis Logie (ZAF), Rodrigo Dornelles (BRA)
HEAT 7: Taj Burrow (AUS), Ben Dunn (AUS), Luke Munro (AUS)
HEAT 8: Kelly Slater (USA), Michael Campbell (AUS), Owen Wright (AUS)
HEAT 9: Andy Irons (HAW), Greg Emslie (ZAF), Matt Wilkinson (AUS)
HEAT 10: Mick Fanning (AUS), Josh Kerr (AUS), Nick Muscroft (AUS)
HEAT 11: Cory Lopez (USA), Luke Stedman (AUS), Adrian Buchan (AUS)
HEAT 12: Phillip MacDonald (AUS), Pancho Sullivan (HAW), Troy Brooks (AUS)
HEAT 13: Bruce Irons (HAW),Ricky Basnett (ZAF), Victor Ribas (BRA)
HEAT 14: Bede Durbidge (AUS), Fredrick Patacchia (HAW), Mark Occhilupo AUS
HEAT 15: C.J. Hobgood (USA), Leonardo Neves (BRA), Michael Lowe (AUS)
HEAT 16: Daniel Wills (AUS), Shaun Cansdell (AUS), Trent Munro (AUS)

RIP CURL PRO AT BELLS BEACH COULD KICK OFF TOMORROW

BELLS BEACH, Australia (Monday, Apr. 2, 2007) – The official waiting period for the 35th Annual Rip Curl Pro presented by Snickers begins tomorrow but the world's best surfers were on site and gathered around the illustrious 'Bell' trophy at Bells Beach today.

Former event champions Kelly Slater (USA), Andy Irons (HAW) and Mick Fanning (AUS) voiced their collective desires to ring the bell again this year and with a solid swell on the way, they may have the opportunity to get started on their quests as soon as tomorrow.

Slater, who hasn't won an event since the Rip Curl Pro at Bells Beach last year, will surpass Tom Curren's 33 event wins record with a victory at Bells. A win will also keep current World No. 1 Fanning from increasing his lead, something the eight-time world champion is eager to do in his quest for his ninth world crown.

"Mick won the first event of the year and he's just such a focused guy," Slater said. "He's got a real fire burning to win the world title this year. He's started out perfectly so far and this is a good event for him. I know that Mick is looking at this one as an important event because Teahupoo hasn't been one of his best events, so he needs to stay ahead while he's there and capitalize on it."

Fanning knows that Slater is all too right and despite winning the first event of the year and entering Bells in pole position, will not be resting on his laurels.

"It's good to win the first event of the year but it's only one event and you still have to go and back it up with seven more results," Fanning said. "It's a good start but the guys on tour can come from anywhere so I have to stay on top of my game. It's a new event and everyone is on a level playing field again – we all have to start from Round 1. All I can do is go out there and surf and hopefully I surf well."

Irons, who won the Rip Curl Pro in 2002 and 2003, is looking for a solid result at Bells after suffering a shock last place finish on the Gold Coast.

"You can't win them all," Irons said. "I went home and recharged the battery so I'm feeling a bit better now, I've had some time to get over it. It's definitely crucial for me to get a result here now. Bells has been good to me in past years, so hopefully I can do well here this year, regain that confidence and take it into Tahiti."

Local surfer Nic Muscroft (AUS) won the Victoria The Place To Be Trials to earn the final wildcard into the Rip Curl Pro today. Muscroft made his way in the main event via trials victories in 2003 and 2006 as well, but has never advanced past Round 2.

"Last year I felt like I was surfing pretty good," Muscroft said. "I had a pretty good heat score in Round 2 against CJ Hobgood (USA) which was good for my confidence, so hopefully I can go out there, surf well and make it through this year."

Muscroft will meet Fanning and Foster's ASP World Tour rookie Josh Kerr (AUS) in Round 1.

Chelsea Hedges (AUS) will enter the Rip Curl Women's Pro as the ASP Women's World Tour ratings leader – a luxury the 2005 World Champion has never enjoyed before.

"I've never had a really good start at the beginning of the year so it's definitely a different feeling," Hedges said. "It's a good feeling to have a win under your belt, but like Mick said, it's only the second event of the year and there are several events to go. At the same time, I'm feeling confident and really excited about getting into the second event."

Reigning world champion Layne Beachley (AUS) spoke on behalf of the Top 17 when she expressed her gratitude to event sponsor Rip Curl for bring the women back to Bells. She spoke on behalf of herself when she announced her intentions at the event.

"Bells is one of the favorite events of all the girls on tour and I know there are a couple of girls who haven't competed here on the pro tour so it's very exciting for women's surfing to be back here," Beachley said. "I'm the owner of three bells and I hope to be the owner of four by the end of the weekend."