Age hasn’t worn out 51-year-old browsing legend Kelly Slater, who has survived the elimination spherical at Bells Seashore after ready two days for respectable waves to return to the long-lasting Victorian break.
However the waves weren’t type to Australian hope Callum Robson, final 12 months’s Bells runner-up, who has crashed out for the competitors.
American Slater, an 11-time world champion, wants a superb outcome at Bells to maneuver above the mid-season reduce line, with the boys’s subject lowered to the highest 24 after the following competitors at Margaret River.
The 51-year-old, who has competed in nearly 100 heats at Bells, stated he needed to click on into gear after taking a break from coaching on Saturday and getting his board fastened.
“I took the time off and simply relaxed, it was actually messy and there wasn’t a lot power within the swell,” Slater stated.
“I truly thought there was an opportunity we would not run right this moment… I did not stress on it an excessive amount of and I obtained up early this morning and noticed it was in all probability on.
“I’ve obtained to win some heats right here to maintain myself on the tour however I’ve spent my time simply being appreciative, there’s a variety of reminiscences right here for me.”
Aussie wipeout
Browsing resumed on the well-known Victorian surf break on Sunday after two lay days, with a messy two-metre swell arriving.
World No.7 Robson was within the first warmth within the water, trying to enhance on final 12 months’s runner-up end at Bells.
However the 22-year-old, who completed third within the earlier world championship tour cease in Portugal, struggled to seek out high-scoring waves.
Fellow Australian Liam O’Brien was a transparent winner with a two-wave whole of 15.17, whereas Hawaiian Ezekiel Lau (9.16) additionally superior forward of Robson (8.07).
Slater, whose first win on the Rip Curl Professional got here again in 1996 and final in 2010, lined up in opposition to one other native hope Connor O’Leary and Carlos Munoz from Costa Rica.
In a good 35-minute battle, Slater scored 12.00 to triumph whereas O’Leary edged Munoz by simply 0.34, with the latter’s final wave rating falling simply quick.
The ladies’s elimination spherical two, that includes two-time world champion and defending Bells winner Tyler Wright, is subsequent within the water adopted by the boys’s spherical of 32.
– with AAP
