It was Queenslander Isabella Nichols who took the womens title at the world famous Rip Curl Pro. The unique event, held in Bells Beach, south of Melbourne. This event is indicative of a terrific victory for Nichols. At only 27 years of age, she recovered from disappointment following her last title attempt against Gabriela Bryan in El Salvador. Among other things, she notoriously missed her twin sister’s wedding in order to race. This decision ensured that her victory at Bells Beach was all the more sweeter.
Nichols proved just how high her scores can soar, with a pair of jaw-dropping rides — 8.33 and 7.93 — for a total of 16.26. Her nearest rival, Luana Silva, ended with a score of 12.67, far short of what it would take to beat Nichols. Beyond those accolades, this championship has been personal for Nichols. It’s her first title victory since she won at the Margaret River Pro three years ago.
A Journey of Resilience
As Nichols shared during the competition, it was an emotionally charged experience for her. “I’m lost for words. I know it’s a cliche, but so much has gone into the last two weeks,” she stated after her victory. The obstacles she overcame were multiple and when asked about the deep competition all week, Tess said.
So many feels, so many challenges and so many bad ass adversaries. Congratulations to Lulu (Silva), she’s has been shredding so hard all event to be in her first final. Nichols concluded, in what sounded like an expression of admiration for the strength of her fellow challengers. Perhaps most importantly, she emphasized the support she received from friends and family along the way.
“My friends and family are here. To be perfectly frank, none of that compares to this … it’s the one award I’ve dreamed of winning the most and it just doesn’t seem real. I’m bloody stoked,” said Nichols, noting that this victory marks the biggest of her career.
Robinson Claims First Victory of the Season
Jack Robinson took his first win of the year on the World Championship Tour. He achieved a two-wave total of 14.14 with scores of 6.37 and 7.77, impressing fans and judges alike throughout the event. Robinson’s victory continues to swell his list of major achievements, punctuating his meteoric rise through the sport of competitive surfing.
“It’s just a surreal feeling. I’m just in the moment, just soaking it all in,” Robinson said, reflecting on his emotions after the win. Though his performance is now something of the past, the indicators are strong that he will be a factor in the next big meet-like setting.
Kanoa Igarashi made history in 2019 by becoming the first male from Japan to win a World Surf League elite tour event. This past time around he scored 13.87, but narrowly missed winning a second crown.
Looking Ahead
The Rip Curl Pro at Bells Beach celebrates its 62nd year, continuing to be a marquee event in the surfing calendar. The next round of the series is hosted on the Gold Coast in Queensland. Surfers are ready to capitalize on the momentum they found during this stop. Stay tuned because the best is yet to come. As in the past, the one-day winner-take-all finals for the top five surfers will be held on Fiji’s dreamy shorelines in late August.
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