White lightning strikes again?
Now let us each, here, be very honest with each other. How many iconic, truly iconic, surf competitions exist? The Billabong Pro Pipeline, neé Pipeline Masters certainly. And… ? The argument could easily be made that Bells Beach, there on Australia’s southeastern tip, is the only other one.
Cold and gloomy.
Fat and gloomy.
Historically significant.
Well, the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach, just days from running on its historically significant Eastern weekend, is just days from running on its historically significant Easter weekend. Who shall be participating? A standard grab bag of Kolohe Andino, Filipe Toledo, Connor O’Leary, etc. Surfers who regularly compete on the World Surf League’s Championship Tour.
Wildcards, though, are given for each and every event and a rumor from a source high up in Rip Curl’s chain of command is declaring that one of this year’s wildcard will be none other than retiree and 3x champion Mick Fanning.
White lightning.
The world’s most loved surfer, who also has launched many yoga studios and beer cans since he has bowed out, will likely come up against a younger, hungry higher seed. Maybe even Kelly Slater himself.
Does this thrill you or just make you wish the World Surf League would launch its master’s division?
Hmmmm.
Commented on Disqus? Log out, tap the Disqus button, and your old name and comments come back. The box is ours.
Your comments are still here. Every one of them.
Twelve years of BeachGrit comments came across from Disqus. Connect and we will show you how many are yours. We get your username, nothing else.
Connect Disqus to reveal.
Hi spoilt brat rich mate cosponsored the rotto event , hence the shoe in wildcard , pair of real wankers those two.
The most overscored surfer all-time, Mick Fanning, will return and I can guarantee they will give him that extra half point if needed to create a feel-good storyline just like how they re-arranged this years contest locations to majority barreling waves Kelly is best at, so he can hopefully finish higher than he normally would, in hopes he will make those finals at Chopes at end of year as a final farewell. That’s why the WSL is sort of a joke because it’s a sport controlled by judges who can rig scores and its obvious they try and script scenarios similar to the WWE which I’m fine with…if they didn’t act like they weren’t.
La Nina will completely cut this event off at the knees.
White Lightning’s got nothing on Eugene. Eugene for wildcard
Looked average at was it narra or Newcastle? Last year may have had more practice after the knee injury this year but still i think i would prefer to see the next in line in the ratings qs battler have a crack at the big show.
Well, I’m alright with this so long as the waves are there, and he goes better than last time he had a wildcard. Last time, I remember, he went about as good as me after a months long flat spell looking silly in two foot close outs
me thinks that didn’t go so well last time they rolled him out to a wsl event, and with tons of hype.
He can’t afford me.
LA couple, destination gig.
Wildcard for #Brutus
Yea for real and he can intoduce the reverse reverse revesed rerereveresed W that is twin Vs , or better still the M which is the flipped reverese revesesd revers twin barrel V .
That was a disinterested wildcard appearance.
It’s Open Season on Hippies! Time to grease up the hippy pot brownie cannon.
I’m having T shirts made so we can go tear up Big Sky one night!
Kamala ’24!
Make sure to clean up the elitist trash before you leave. Montana doesn’t need any more LA crap laying about it’s picturesque lands.
Don’t let the door hit you in the ass on the way out.
Kamala is an embarrassment to the country.
What is your take on the whole Power of the Dog Sam Shepard versus Jane Campion?
Sam is correct. Hollywood well and truly ruins everything. They believe themselves so insulated from criticism that it’s quite entertaining to watch a director unable to handle such criticism from within the Hollywood bubble. She could only react by making an ad hominem attack calling him a “bitch” and following that up with a ridiculous challenge to a shootout.
Otto, you should not allow everything to trigger you so easily.
Go for a surf. LOL. Kamala ‘24!
Perfect timing for the ole’… https://uploads.disquscdn.c…
Remember kids: Every time you purchase HURLULEY products, 100% of the profits goes to a select charity which is focused on providing the very best compensation packages for the executive officers.
Mick will do anything too escape the shark crazed waters of NSW (https://www.portnews.com.au… and /or the smell of mud on Kirra hill.
https://uploads.disquscdn.c…
https://uploads.disquscdn.c…
https://uploads.disquscdn.c…
https://uploads.disquscdn.c…
https://uploads.disquscdn.c…
https://uploads.disquscdn.c…
Last one from me. I’ve got to go look after the kids for the arvo.
Good Game.
https://uploads.disquscdn.c…
That’ll be a wrap for Mick
Typical off RipsatanCurls style , lets see them role out all the usual down under deadbeats MC WL fark most likely even the old gnome at large NC , what a typical bells beach wanka fest.
Well You’re very rude sir !
Obviously!!!
My warehouse was in Newport near Hogue Hospital… Monrovia. He bought a warehouse down the street on 16th. Fun times. Will let you know if I get him to go. Once April 9 is over, I have two months free before I go to Montana for a gig in mid June. First time to that state for work.
I’d rather watch Chas on a mid length than Mick
MV is the close friend I was referring too. We’ve done art projects, designed his wedding and Oaxaca trips. Solid switch foot in the day. His office was down the street from mine in the 90’s. Mc Elroy next door. Quik Eye across the parking lot. Vco down the street. Fun times. He’s pushing me to go down to Astro land when it opens. He promised me his apartment at Alligators, maybe he’ll go too.
That HAS to happen. Always the best round too condition wise.