Tahiti, French Polynesia: Australia’s Jack Robinson and Isabella Nichols celebrated major victories on Sunday at the prestigious Rip Curl Pro at Bells Beach, south of Melbourne, each securing a significant milestone on the world championship tour.
Robinson, a Paris Olympics silver medallist, clinched his first win of the season by delivering an impressive performance. He scored a 7.77 on his third wave, following a 6.37, to achieve a two-wave total of 14.14. The Australian narrowly edged out Japan’s Kanoa Igarashi, who finished with 13.87, falling just short of his second career tour victory.
“It’s just a surreal feeling. I’m just in the moment, just soaking it all in,” Robinson said, reflecting on his win. “It’s been a special week … there’s so much history here.”
Igarashi, who made history by becoming the first Japanese man to win a World Surf League elite tour event in Bali in 2019, needed a 6.98 in the final minutes to overtake Robinson but could not find a wave strong enough before time expired.
Earlier in the day, Isabella Nichols delivered a commanding performance to claim the women’s title, defeating Brazil’s Luana Silva. Nichols posted two outstanding scores—8.33 and 7.93—for a combined total of 16.26, surpassing Silva’s 12.67.
For the 27-year-old Queenslander, a first victory at Bells Beach was a moment of redemption following a heartbreaking title loss to Hawaiian Gabriela Bryan at the previous tour stop in El Salvador. Nichols had even missed her twin sister’s wedding to compete there, making this triumph all the more poignant.
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“I’m lost for words. I know it’s a cliche, but so much has gone into the last two weeks,” said Nichols, whose only previous tour title win came at the Margaret River Pro three years ago.
“So many emotions, so many challenges and so many really tough opponents. Props to Lulu (Silva), she’s been surfing so good all event to be in her first final.
“My friends and family are here. Honestly nothing beats this … it’s the one event I’ve always wanted to win and I can’t believe it. I’m bloody stoked.”
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With Bells Beach marking the 62nd edition of the world’s longest-running professional surfing contest, the focus now shifts to the Gold Coast in Queensland for the sixth event of the 11-stop tour. The season will culminate with the one-day finals for the top five surfers in Fiji later in August.
