The Rip Curl Pro – originally coined the Bells Beach Rally in 1962 – will celebrate its 50th anniversary starting this weekend, furthering its lore as the world’s longest-running professional surfing contest. Once again, Torquay will welcome the world’s best surfers as they navigate the iconic breaks and barrels of Bells Beach and vie for the event’s prestigious trophy bell.

A ‘Gathering of the Tribes’ reunion is scheduled for Sat the 16th, as past competitors, officials and talented spectators are being invited back to Bells (board or beverage in tow) to mull over half-a-century worth of swells and spills. Later that day, there’s an exclusive preview at Torquay’s Surf World of the Bells Gold Exhibition, which celebrates the famed beach’s 50-years legacy.

Once all that waxing on about the good ol’ days is put the bed, the competitive stuff kicks off on Sun the 17th with The Championship Moves Men’s Pre-Trials, including paddle-outs by the Open and Junior State series surfers and the Victorian Indigenous Surfing Champ. There’s also a Surf With The Pros clinic, where groms can get up close and personal with their fiberglass-toting heroes.

From 19-30 April, the real action takes place as the ASP World Tour’s best surfers bash the tides. Ten-time ASP world-champ Kelly Slater will chase his fifth Bells title, with those aiming to stop him including Aussies Mick Fanning and Joel Parkinson, who’s back in form after last year’s season-ending injury. Stephanie Gilmore also goes after a fourth title in the women’s pro, surfing alongside wildcard Bethany Hamilton, an inspiring surfer who make the pro circuit years after losing an arm to a shark attack.

Post-event, rub shoulders with surfing royalty at the local haunts – the Torquay Hotel, Bells Beach Hotel and Bird Rock Café. We have a hunch that celebratory drinks might be as big as the swells.

When: 16-30 Apr
Where: Bells Beach Foreshore, Bells Beach Rd, Bells Beach
Details: live.ripcurl.com

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