• Top 5’s Peterson, Manuel, and Weston-Webb Eliminated in Round of 16
• 4x Bells Winner Stephanie Gilmore Ends Local Hero India Robinson’s Run at Home
• Rookies Gabriela Bryan and Luana Silva Fall Shy of Quarters at Bells Beach

BELLS BEACH, Victoria, Australia (Wednesday, April 13, 2022) – The Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach completing the women’s Round of 16 in clean three-to-five foot surf on the Bells Bowl. The fourth stop on the World Surf League (WSL) 2022 Championship Tour (CT) is now down to the Quarterfinals after big eliminations today.

The Opening heat of the day saw a clash of the Californians with Lakey Peterson taking on 2019 Bells winner Courtney Conlogue. With Peterson residing in Torquay for half the year and Conlogue in the hunt for her third win at Bells, this heat was a matchup of two very formidable and experienced competitors at this location and was always going to be one to watch. Conlogue took control of the heat early and never looked back, convincingly beating the world No. 2. The win was a must for Conlogue who is currently sitting below the Mid-season Cut Line and in desperate need of a big result here at the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach.

“I kind of played off all of the knowledge I’ve had through all the years out here and just trusted the process,” said Conlogue. “It was tricky, really slow, but I had a good start and it paid off. The stakes are high, they always are and I’ve had a tricky year and you have to learn from those experiences and play it out and see it through. Whatever happens, happens. The best way to do well is flow”.

Heat 2 saw Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) progress to the Quarterfinals after beating World No. 5 Malia Manuel (HAW) by just 0.33 points. In four-to-six-foot waves with light wind conditions, it was the first time either of the athletes surfed at Bells in the 2022 Rip Curl Pro.

Injury replacement Bronte Macaulay (AUS) was a standout in the Round of 16, dominating her matchup with fellow goofy-foot and World Title hopeful Tatiana Weston-Webb. Macaulay was on fire, throwing buckets of spray with her vertical backhand turns to post an impressive two-wave total of 15.66 which left Weston-Webb in a combination situation (needing two scores).

“It was always going to be a hard heat against Tatiana,” Macaulay said. “She’s got a really good backhand but I was just so excited to surf. I was feeling really competitive before that heat and I haven’t felt competitive for a while so it was exciting to be out there. I feel really lucky to be working with Jordy who is a local here and he gave me some amazing tips on wave selection which definitely helped. I got some clean ones that were the best waves.”

Heat 6 was the round that rookie India Robinson’s Bells dream came to an end when seven-time WSL Champion Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) powered home with an 8.07 (out of a possible 10) to win the heat. Gilmore used her experience to outperform the rookie, focusing on wave selection and skill variety to show the judges. Sitting just below the Mid-season cut, this win couldn’t come at a better time for the CT veteran.

“I’ve had so many hard heats this year, and India I knew wasn’t going to be any easier,” Gilmore said. “She’s an incredible young surfer and I’ve actually seen some of my favorite heats here at Bells has been watching the locals. I knew I couldn’t out pick the best waves and I knew she would always be on the good ones so I had to stay busy and almost go against what I’m used to doing which is just being patient. But it was back and forth the whole time, they are actually such good heats because you are just on edge the whole time thinking ‘yeh, I’ve got the score’ and then they throw a score back at you. India is a great surfer so that’s a tough result for sure for her.”

Tyler Wright (AUS) overtook Johanne Defay (FRA) for the highest heat total on the women’s side so far, beating rookie Gabriela Bryan (HAW) to progress into the Quarterfinals. In a heat that had everything working for Wright, she was able to lock in an 8.17 (out of a possible 10) early, only to back it up with a 9.07 (out of a possible 10)  for a combined heat score of 17.24 (out of a possible 20). Wright’s performance was a shot across the bow of her opponents and a sign that she is ready to claim her maiden Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach title.

“That was really fun and really special,” said Wright. “It’s been four years since I’ve surfed out here. It’s been a really long time since I’ve felt like I’ve surfed like myself and I’m starting to feel like that again and get glimpses of that so it’s quite emotional for me. I look down at my body and it feels like my body, the powerful and strong and connected way I surf and feel. It’s quite emotional for me to feel, it feels like it’s the first time I’ve felt it in four years. It’s the only event I really want to win.”