LightBox NO 3
The Bell
It took four locations. 11 days. And every ounce of patience the town of Torquay had... but the 49th annual Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach finally finished under rainy skies at Johanna beachbeak. Kelly Slater won. Mick Fanning was runner-up. You know all of this. But what we set out to do during our time at Bells was to give you a rare glimpse at life around the contest, beyond the competitor’s area. A portrait of the place. Of the athletes. Of the waves. Of the life they live on tour. Throughout this Lightbox, shot by Jimmicane himself, we highlight the moments around an event that you rarely see. We realize it’s never as much about the points or the jerseys as it is about the moments that are created by the electric energy around an event. Despite wacky waves and multiple venues, we still managed to immortalize these candid glimpses of the world’s best surfers in their natural habitat.
by Travis FerrĂŠ
photos by Jimmicane
The parking lot
above Winkipop is town square. If it’s the afternoon, and you’re bored, you go there. There are either waves to ride, warm beers to drink or people to heckle. And if you’re lucky, Kekoa Bacalso is there.
Kieren Perrow slips between the crowds at a little wave called Bird Rock.
CJ Hobgood post tennis match no doubt.
Davey Cathels is Chris Davidson in miniature. They are from the same town (Narrabeen) and they look identical. And Davo loved it when his little protégé turned 19 during the event. The two turned Bird Rock pub into their own party complete with electric blue concoctions and spontaneous dance-offs. He’s also one photogenic flyboy.
Sally Fitzgibbons pre-heat giggles.
Dusty Payne went for the electric blue Holden. And Pepper on the stereo. According to Dane, “lots of Pepper.� It seemed to work as every time Dusty surfed, it was an inspired performance.
With Bells running for 11 days, there were a lot of down days.
And the tennis action was hot.
Brett Simpson and CJ Hobgood were by far the most competitive pair.
This is a very average afternoon at 13th Beach, a long sand dune of a beachbreak that would host star-studded and windblow beachbreak super sessions in awful waves on a nightly basis. This session features Taj, Parko, Mick and a host of others, but Taj Burrow was the clear session victor.
dominates Stephanie Gilmore
the Bells bowl and brought home another Bell.
The rumor was very true. The post-heat bikini bathtub interview was a reality. One that Kelly wasn’t too excited to partake in. But Kekoa Bacalso gladly accepted. The riveting questions being asked to Kekoa: “What do you think about back hair?”
“Well I don’t have to worry about that,” Kekoa responded to the beautiful bathing suit girl. “I’m Asian, I don’t have any hair on my whole body.”
Owen Wright, Winkipop.
Dillon Perillo is Rip Curl’s newest member and left his Malibu abode to soak in all that is Rip Curl Country in Torquay.
“Training is creepy,” was my
favorite thing he said the whole trip and as you can see here, slobs are his grab of choice.
Jordy Smith is all smiles about his start to the
2nd and a 3rd and 2010 tour. A
a lot of variety in his surfing.
Brett Simpson stomping what we’re claiming was
event
the move of the
from his Round 3 clash with Kekoa Bacalso.
Faces of Winkipop lot (l to r): Andy Irons, Bells signage,
Pat Gudauskas, Steph Gilmore, Kelly Slater, Claire Bevilacqua, Freddy P, Roy Powers, Bells or bust.
Adriano DeSouza was a standout at Bells and packed up a good result to take home to Brazil for stop number three.
Rip Curl GromSearch finalist Nage Melamed.
Coco Ho demonstrates a textbook cartwheel at Winkipop. And yes, she pulled it.
SURFING Magazine Press Gang at Bells. He
Fred Patacchia became part of the now has a lifetime membership.
Winkipop is a modern version
of Bells, with air sections
and playful pockets.
Heat of the event? Quite possibly. Kelly Slater and Dusty Payne’s Round 4 meeting was one that showed the clear separation in the new generation’s schizophrenic heat strategy and preparation. Moments before Dusty ran down to punch Jimmicane in the stomach, he was in the VIP Beer Garden (not drinking, obviously) with Dane, talking about his strategy. “I don’t care who I’m surfing against. I really don’t,” he said. And I really believed him. His lighthearted, static approach to his heat with the world’s best surfer was refreshing and Dusty managed to give us this (click next page).
His (Dusty Payne) first maneuver of the heat, one of the most extended nose picks the world’s ever seen. He lost the heat and peeled out of the parking lot before peeling off his wetsuit. We followed in hot pursuit.
After Dane’s exit from the contest in a wave starved heat against Roy Powers, he resorted to the
VIP beer garden overlooking Bells. He was in good spirits despite the loss.
Most dominate surfer throughout the event was Taj by a long shot. His heat against Andy was something of beauty and aggression. Pre-heat pep rally with trainer and the Winkipop results.
He eats a lot. Got to hang with his hero Dane Reynolds. And toyed with the hearts of all the girls in Torquay. Kolohe became the Rip Curl Pro mascot, popping up all over the event and in the lineup. Everyone loves Kolohe. From Taj and Andy to Dane and the Gudauaskas’ Kolohe is the surf world’s favorite son.
And when Kolohe paddles out, regardless of the conditions, he’s always bound to get
the shot of the day.
World Tour rookie and happy guy Pat Gudauskas. This was an unexpected lay day and a drive up the coast that yielded playful peaks and delicious Bundaberg ginger beer.
Australian cuisine.
Dane Reynolds and the board Freddy P cursed. “Everything Fred touches has been cursed this trip,� Dane said as he showed us the fin on this board that Fred had sawed in half a few days before on a rock. Dane still rode it, of course.
Patrick and Tom Curren. Not much more to say than that. Two legends, father and son checking the surf.
The left bar at Johanna was there to entertain whenever there was a lull in the action on the final day. Gabriel Medina and Bobby Martinez were the stars.
Throwing your board while on the ASP World Tour gets you a fine. If you work for the ASP, this is not Kekoa throwing his board.
This is Bam Bam gently setting it down.
Bobby Martinez’s semi final nail in the coffin against PArko.
Clash of the Icons heat was once again taken by Curren, who surfed well enough to be on the Top 44 (or 32 or whatever it is now). Curren and Occy pre-heat at Bells.
Shaking the hand of your opponent before the final is always going to be
awkward and uncomfortable, especially when you give him your left hand, and he gives you his right. Awkward silence before the final between Mick and Kelly.
The waves were more than contestable at Johanna, albeit a little funky, there were still plenty of opportunity.
Kelly’s variety in a heat is something often overlooked. He is one of the most creative surfers on a wave.
Free-form at Johanna in the final.
You’ve seen this before:
Kelly is victorious.
Your 2010 Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach winner (via Johanna) Kelly Slater.
LightBox NO 3
thanks for flipp