The Rip Curl Pro, formerly the Bells Beach Surf Classic, is a WSL (formerly ASP) World Tour surfing competition held in and around Torquay, Victoria and sponsored by surf company Rip Curl. The event is based at Bells Beach, Victoria, Australia. The event winner is awarded the prestigious 'Bell' trophy.[1] It is the longest running professional surfing competition in the world.[2]
The song "Hells Bells" by AC/DC is played every morning before the first competition.[3]
The competition has been held annually at Easter time at Bells Beach, Victoria continuously since 1962,[4] becoming a professional competition and sponsored by Rip Curl in 1973.[2] The contest has had various sponsors over the years, including in 1984 Australian rock band, Australian Crawl.
The first Bells Beach contest was supposed to be held in late 1961 but was delayed until the Australia day weekend of 1962. The first winner was NSW surfer Glynn Ritchie.[5] Occasionally George "Ming" Smith is credited as winning the 1961 event but he actually won the "wave of the day" in the first contest (1962) and was awarded a prize of 1 pound, and a pennant saying "winner 1961".
The event became mobile from 1993, and was held at various locations in Victoria, depending upon weather conditions. The entire 2005 event was held at Phillip Island due to poor conditions in Torquay. The event is now held only at Bells Beach and nearby Winkipop.
The famous Bells trophy was designed and built by Bells Beach local Joe Sweeney. The first time a Bell trophy was awarded was 1968. Winners of the Rip Curl Pro receive smaller replica Bells trophies to keep. Each year, Rip Curl founder Doug 'Claw' Warbrick presents the trophies to the winning athletes.[6]
The 2020 and 2021 contests were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[7]
Since the birth of this competition it had different names, such as the Bells Beach Easter Classic.[8]
| Men
|
| Year
|
Winner
|
Nation
|
Score
|
Runner-Up
|
Nation
|
Score
|
Prizemoney
|
| 2025
|
Jack Robinson
|
Australia
|
13.50
|
Kanoa Igarashi
|
File:Flag of Japan.svg Japan
|
12.80
|
$80,000
|
| 2024
|
Cole Houshmand
|
File:Flag of the United States (23px).png United States
|
13.50
|
Griffin Colapinto
|
File:Flag of the United States (23px).png United States
|
12.80
|
$80,000
|
| 2023
|
Ethan Ewing
|
Australia
|
14.50
|
Ryan Callinan
|
Australia
|
11.00
|
$80,000
|
| 2022
|
Filipe Toledo
|
File:Flag of Brazil.svg Brazil
|
14.74
|
Callum Robson
|
Australia
|
12.94
|
$80,000
|
| 2021
|
Not Held
|
|
-
|
-
|
|
-
|
-
|
| 2020
|
Not Held
|
|
-
|
-
|
|
-
|
-
|
| 2019
|
John John Florence
|
Hawaii Hawaii
|
14.30
|
Filipe Toledo
|
File:Flag of Brazil.svg Brazil
|
13.83
|
$607,800
|
| 2018
|
Italo Ferreira
|
File:Flag of Brazil.svg Brazil
|
15.66
|
Mick Fanning
|
Australia
|
12.83
|
$607,800
|
| 2017
|
Jordy Smith
|
File:Flag of South Africa.svg South Africa
|
18.90
|
Caio Ibelli
|
File:Flag of Brazil.svg Brazil
|
17.46
|
$579,000
|
| 2016
|
Matt Wilkinson
|
Australia
|
17.37
|
Jordy Smith
|
File:Flag of South Africa.svg South Africa
|
14.16
|
$551,000
|
| 2015
|
Mick Fanning (4)
|
Australia
|
15.27
|
Adriano De Souza
|
File:Flag of Brazil.svg Brazil
|
15.27
|
$525,000
|
| 2014
|
Mick Fanning (3)
|
Australia
|
16.83
|
Taj Burrow
|
Australia
|
13.26
|
$450,000
|
| 2013
|
Adriano De Souza
|
File:Flag of Brazil.svg Brazil
|
16.26
|
Nat Young
|
File:Flag of the United States (23px).png United States
|
15.83
|
$450,000
|
| 2012
|
Mick Fanning (2)
|
Australia
|
18.80
|
Kelly Slater
|
File:Flag of the United States (23px).png United States
|
18.07
|
$425,000
|
| 2011
|
Joel Parkinson (3)
|
Australia
|
18.53
|
Mick Fanning
|
Australia
|
13.25
|
$425,000
|
| 2010
|
Kelly Slater (4)
|
File:Flag of the United States (23px).png United States
|
17.03
|
Mick Fanning
|
Australia
|
12.00
|
$400,000
|
| 2009
|
Joel Parkinson (2)
|
Australia
|
17.40
|
Adam Robertson
|
Australia
|
13.37
|
$320,000
|
| 2008
|
Kelly Slater (3)
|
File:Flag of the United States (23px).png United States
|
15.63
|
Bede Durbidge
|
Australia
|
15.16
|
$320,000
|
| 2007
|
Taj Burrow
|
Australia
|
16.83
|
Andy Irons
|
Hawaii Hawaii
|
14.73
|
$300,000
|
| 2006
|
Kelly Slater (2)
|
File:Flag of the United States (23px).png United States
|
15.44
|
Joel Parkinson
|
Australia
|
13.83
|
$280,000
|
| 2005
|
Trent Munro
|
Australia
|
16.57
|
Andy Irons
|
Hawaii Hawaii
|
15.07
|
$270,000
|
| 2004
|
Joel Parkinson
|
Australia
|
17.13
|
Taj Burrow
|
Australia
|
14.04
|
$250,000
|
| 2003
|
Andy Irons (2)
|
Hawaii Hawaii
|
17.57
|
Joel Parkinson
|
Australia
|
15.40
|
$250,000
|
| 2002
|
Andy Irons
|
Hawaii Hawaii
|
24.45
|
Sunny Garcia
|
Hawaii Hawaii
|
22.65
|
$250,000
|
| 2001
|
Mick Fanning
|
Australia
|
20.85
|
Danny Wills
|
Australia
|
19.15
|
$250,000
|
| 2000
|
Sunny Garcia (3)
|
Hawaii Hawaii
|
23.05
|
Flavio Padaratz
|
File:Flag of Brazil.svg Brazil
|
21.00
|
$135,600
|
| 1999
|
Shane Dorian
|
Hawaii Hawaii
|
24.75
|
Sunny Garcia
|
Hawaii Hawaii
|
23.65
|
$120,600
|
| 1998
|
Mark Occhilupo
|
Australia
|
24.25
|
Shane Dorian
|
Hawaii Hawaii
|
19.80
|
$120,600
|
| 1997
|
Matt Hoy
|
Australia
|
26.50
|
Damien Hardman
|
Australia
|
21.80
|
$120,600
|
| 1996
|
Sunny Garcia (2)
|
Hawaii Hawaii
|
30.80
|
Todd Prestage
|
Australia
|
29.15
|
$105,000
|
| 1995
|
Sunny Garcia
|
Hawaii Hawaii
|
34.70
|
John Shimooka
|
Hawaii Hawaii
|
33.00
|
$105,000
|
| 1994
|
Kelly Slater
|
File:Flag of the United States (23px).png United States
|
29.70
|
Martin Potter
|
Australia
|
28.30
|
$105,000
|
| 1993
|
Damien Hardman (2)
|
Australia
|
22.00
|
Barton Lynch
|
Australia
|
20.00
|
$100,000
|
| 1992
|
Richie Collins
|
File:Flag of the United States (23px).png United States
|
30.00
|
Martin Potter
|
File:Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom
|
27.00
|
$100,000
|
| 1991
|
Barton Lynch
|
Australia
|
71.80
|
Damien Hardman
|
Australia
|
68.80
|
$125,000
|
| 1990
|
Tom Curren (2)
|
File:Flag of the United States (23px).png United States
|
111.3
|
Dave Macaulay
|
Australia
|
100.8
|
$92,500
|
| 1989
|
Martin Potter
|
File:Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom
|
123.5
|
Damien Hardman
|
Australia
|
113.3
|
$66,500
|
| 1988
|
Damien Hardman
|
Australia
|
126.6
|
Tom Carroll
|
Australia
|
114.1
|
$42,000
|
| 1987
|
Nick Wood
|
Australia
|
3
|
Richard Marsh
|
Australia
|
2
|
$35,000
|
| 1986
|
Tom Carroll
|
Australia
|
5
|
Tom Curren
|
File:Flag of the United States (23px).png United States
|
0
|
$30,000
|
| 1985
|
Tom Curren
|
File:Flag of the United States (23px).png United States
|
2
|
Richard Cram
|
Australia
|
1
|
$25,000
|
| 1984
|
Cheyne Horan
|
Australia
|
2
|
Tom Carroll
|
Australia
|
0
|
$25,000
|
| 1983
|
Joe Engel
|
Australia
|
|
Wes Laine
|
File:Flag of the United States (23px).png United States
|
|
|
| 1982
|
Mark Richards (4)
|
Australia
|
|
Tom Carroll
|
Australia
|
|
$20,000
|
| 1981
|
Simon Anderson (2)
|
Australia
|
|
Cheyne Horan
|
Australia
|
|
$16,000
|
| 1980
|
Mark Richards (3)
|
Australia
|
|
Wayne Bartholomew
|
Australia
|
|
$15,100
|
| 1979
|
Mark Richards (2)
|
Australia
|
|
Wayne Bartholomew
|
Australia
|
|
$11,200
|
| 1978
|
Mark Richards
|
Australia
|
|
Wayne Bartholomew
|
Australia
|
|
$14,450
|
| 1977
|
Simon Anderson
|
Australia
|
|
Peter Drouyn
|
Australia
|
|
$9,500
|
| 1976
|
Jeff Hakman
|
Hawaii Hawaii
|
|
Ian Cairns
|
Australia
|
|
$6,000
|
| 1975
|
Michael Peterson (3)
|
Australia
|
|
Shaun Tomson
|
File:Flag of South Africa.svg South Africa
|
|
|
| 1974
|
Michael Peterson (2)
|
Australia
|
|
Peter Drouyn
|
Australia
|
|
|
| 1973
|
Michael Peterson
|
Australia
|
|
Midget Farrelly
|
Australia
|
|
|
| 1972
|
Terry Fitzgerald
|
Australia
|
|
Peter Drouyn
|
Australia
|
|
|
| 1971
|
Paul Neilsen
|
Australia
|
|
Peter Drouyn
|
Australia
|
|
|
| 1970
|
Nat Young (3)
|
Australia
|
|
Ted Spencer
|
Australia
|
|
|
| 1969
|
Ted Spencer (2)
|
Australia
|
|
Frank Latta
|
Australia
|
|
|
| 1968
|
Ted Spencer
|
Australia
|
|
Keith Paull
|
Australia
|
|
|
| 1967
|
Nat Young (2)
|
Australia
|
|
Peter Drouyn
|
Australia
|
|
|
| 1966
|
Nat Young
|
Australia
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 1965
|
Robert Conneely
|
Australia
|
|
Nat Young
|
Australia
|
|
|
| 1964
|
Mick Dooley
|
Australia
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 1963
|
Doug Andrew
|
Australia
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 1962
|
Glynn Ritchie
|
Australia
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 1961*
|
George "Ming" Smith
|
Australia
|
|
|
|
|
£1 ($2) Note: Smith won "wave of the day", not the actual final and the 1961 event was actually held in 1962.
|
| Women
|
| Year
|
Winner
|
Nation
|
Score
|
Runner-Up
|
Nation
|
Score
|
Prizemoney
|
| 2025
|
Isabella Nichols
|
Australia
|
16.26
|
Luana Silva
|
File:Flag of Brazil.svg Brazil
|
12.67
|
$80,000
|
| 2024
|
Caitlin Simmers
|
File:Flag of the United States (23px).png United States
|
12.77
|
Johanne Defay
|
File:Flag of France.svg France
|
11.60
|
$80,000
|
| 2023
|
Tyler Wright (2)
|
Australia
|
16.00
|
Molly Picklum
|
Australia
|
12.00
|
$80,000
|
| 2022
|
Tyler Wright
|
Australia
|
16.93
|
Carissa Moore
|
Hawaii Hawaii
|
10.57
|
$80,000
|
| 2021
|
Not held
|
-
|
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
| 2020
|
Not held
|
-
|
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
| 2019
|
Courtney Conlogue (3)
|
File:Flag of the United States (23px).png United States
|
15.83
|
Malia Manuel
|
Hawaii Hawaii
|
14.84
|
$420,800
|
| 2018
|
Stephanie Gilmore (4)
|
Australia
|
14.17
|
Tatiana Weston-Webb
|
Brazil Brazil
|
13.94
|
$298,900
|
| 2017
|
Courtney Conlogue (2)
|
File:Flag of the United States (23px).png United States
|
17.00
|
Stephanie Gilmore
|
Australia
|
16.33
|
$289,500
|
| 2016
|
Courtney Conlogue
|
File:Flag of the United States (23px).png United States
|
16.53 (9.03)
|
Sally Fitzgibbons
|
Australia
|
16.43 (8.33)
|
$275,500
|
| 2015
|
Carissa Moore (3)
|
Hawaii Hawaii
|
14.00
|
Stephanie Gilmore
|
Australia
|
13.27
|
$262,500
|
| 2014
|
Carissa Moore (2)
|
Hawaii Hawaii
|
15.73
|
Tyler Wright
|
Australia
|
14.10
|
$250,000
|
| 2013
|
Carissa Moore
|
Hawaii Hawaii
|
11.00
|
Tyler Wright
|
Australia
|
6.94
|
$120,000
|
| 2012
|
Sally Fitzgibbons (2)
|
Australia
|
10.76
|
Stephanie Gilmore
|
Australia
|
10.33
|
$110,000
|
| 2011
|
Sally Fitzgibbons
|
Australia
|
16.77
|
Carissa Moore
|
Hawaii Hawaii
|
15.40
|
$110,000
|
| 2010
|
Stephanie Gilmore (3)
|
Australia
|
14.67
|
Sofia Mulanovich
|
File:Flag of Peru.svg Peru
|
10.00
|
$100,000
|
| 2009
|
Silvana Lima
|
File:Flag of Brazil.svg Brazil
|
17.34
|
Stephanie Gilmore
|
Australia
|
13.06
|
$90,000
|
| 2008
|
Stephanie Gilmore (2)
|
Australia
|
16.50
|
Sofia Mulanovich
|
File:Flag of Peru.svg Peru
|
16.17
|
$85,000
|
| 2007
|
Stephanie Gilmore
|
Australia
|
16.50
|
Sofia Mulanovich
|
File:Flag of Peru.svg Peru
|
11.93
|
$80,000
|
| 2006
|
Not held
|
-
|
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
| 2005
|
Sofia Mulanovich
|
File:Flag of Peru.svg Peru
|
15.83
|
Serena Brooke
|
Australia
|
11.83
|
$65,000
|
| 2004
|
Not held
|
-
|
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
| 2003
|
Not held
|
-
|
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
| 2002
|
Not held
|
-
|
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
| 2001
|
Neridah Falconer
|
Australia
|
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
| 2000
|
Megan Abubo
|
Hawaii Hawaii
|
18.90
|
Rochelle Ballard
|
Hawaii Hawaii
|
18.75
|
$30,000
|
| 1999
|
Layne Beachley (3)
|
Australia
|
21.25
|
Sandie Dryden
|
Australia
|
17.40
|
$30,000
|
| 1998
|
Layne Beachley (2)
|
Australia
|
24.50
|
Prue Jeffries
|
Australia
|
21.90
|
$30,000
|
| 1997
|
Lisa Andersen (4)
|
File:Flag of the United States (23px).png United States
|
26.00
|
Pam Burridge
|
Australia
|
23.65
|
$35,000
|
| 1996
|
Pauline Menczer (3)
|
Australia
|
22.30
|
Lisa Andersen
|
File:Flag of the United States (23px).png United States
|
22.25
|
$25,000
|
| 1995
|
Lisa Andersen (3)
|
File:Flag of the United States (23px).png United States
|
27.10
|
Pauline Menczer
|
Australia
|
26.30
|
$25,000
|
| 1994
|
Layne Beachley
|
Australia
|
20.67
|
Lisa Andersen
|
File:Flag of the United States (23px).png United States
|
13.16
|
$25,000
|
| 1993
|
Pauline Menczer (2)
|
Australia
|
19.7
|
Wendy Botha
|
Australia
|
16.3
|
$25,000
|
| 1992
|
Lisa Andersen (2)
|
File:Flag of the United States (23px).png United States
|
23.2
|
Neridah Falconer
|
Australia
|
22.6
|
$20,000
|
| 1991
|
Pauline Menczer
|
Australia
|
90.8
|
Michele Donoghoe
|
Australia
|
88.3
|
$20,000
|
| 1990
|
Lisa Andersen
|
File:Flag of the United States (23px).png United States
|
111.5
|
Kim Mearig
|
File:Flag of the United States (23px).png United States
|
98
|
$20,000
|
| 1989
|
Wendy Botha
|
Australia
|
120.8
|
Toni Sawyer
|
Australia
|
104.5
|
$15,000
|
| 1988
|
Kim Mearig (2)
|
File:Flag of the United States (23px).png United States
|
115.9
|
Freida Zamba
|
File:Flag of the United States (23px).png United States
|
113.5
|
$13,500
|
| 1987
|
Jodie Cooper
|
Australia
|
-
|
-
|
|
-
|
-
|
| 1986
|
Frieda Zamba (2)
|
File:Flag of the United States (23px).png United States
|
-
|
-
|
|
-
|
-
|
| 1985
|
Frieda Zamba
|
File:Flag of the United States (23px).png United States
|
-
|
-
|
|
-
|
-
|
| 1984
|
Kim Mearig
|
File:Flag of the United States (23px).png United States
|
-
|
-
|
|
-
|
-
|
| 1983
|
Helen Lambert
|
Australia
|
-
|
-
|
|
-
|
-
|
| 1982
|
Debbie Beacham
|
File:Flag of the United States (23px).png United States
|
-
|
-
|
|
-
|
-
|
| 1981
|
Linda Davoli
|
File:Flag of the United States (23px).png United States
|
-
|
-
|
|
-
|
-
|
| 1980
|
Margo Oberg (3)
|
File:Flag of the United States (23px).png United States
|
-
|
-
|
|
-
|
-
|
| 1979
|
Lynne Boyer
|
File:Flag of the United States (23px).png United States
|
-
|
-
|
|
-
|
-
|
| 1978
|
Margo Oberg (2)
|
File:Flag of the United States (23px).png United States
|
-
|
-
|
|
-
|
-
|
| 1977
|
Margo Oberg
|
File:Flag of the United States (23px).png United States
|
-
|
-
|
|
-
|
-
|
| 1976
|
Gail Couper (10)
|
Australia
|
-
|
-
|
|
-
|
-
|
| 1975
|
Gail Couper (9)
|
Australia
|
-
|
-
|
|
-
|
$200
|
| 1974
|
Gail Couper (8)
|
Australia
|
-
|
Judy Trim
|
Australia
|
-
|
-
|
| 1973
|
Not held
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
-
|
-
|
| 1972
|
Gail Couper (7)
|
Australia
|
-
|
-
|
|
-
|
-
|
| 1971
|
Gail Couper (6)
|
Australia
|
-
|
Judy Trim
|
Australia
|
-
|
-
|
| 1970
|
Gail Couper (5)
|
Australia
|
-
|
-
|
|
-
|
-
|
| 1969
|
Vivien Campbell
|
Australia
|
-
|
Phyllis O'Donnell
|
Australia
|
-
|
-
|
| 1968
|
Gail Couper (4)
|
Australia
|
-
|
Vivien Campbell
|
Australia
|
-
|
-
|
| 1967
|
Gail Couper (3)
|
Australia
|
-
|
-
|
|
-
|
-
|
| 1966
|
Gail Couper (2)
|
Australia
|
-
|
-
|
|
-
|
-
|
| 1965
|
Not held
|
-
|
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
| 1964
|
Gail Couper
|
Australia
|
-
|
-
|
|
-
|
-
|
| 1963
|
Not held
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
-
|
-
|
| 1962
|
Not held
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
-
|
-
|
[9]
- ^ ASP World Tour Schedule (accessed 28 April 2011)
- ^ a b Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Surf Coast Shire Archived 31 December 2006 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).