50 Years of Bells

The Rip Curl Pro - the world's longest running and most prestigious world tour surfing event will this year be celebrating the 50th anniversary of professional surfing at the internationally renowned Bells Beach – in Torquay, Australia's surfing home from April 19 to April 30.
It has long been considered the ‘Wimbledon’ of surfing. The Rip Curl Pro is well known for its traditions and this is what makes it so unique on the ASP World Tour.
Since its early beginnings in the 1960’s, the Rip Curl Pro has always been held over the Easter weekend. It is a pilgrimage that the competitors, event officials and fans make each year, eating their hot cross buns and Easter eggs whilst watching the world’s best surfers battle it out for the iconic bell trophy. To be able to ring the bell at the Rip Curl Pro in front of thousands of people is something that most surfers only dream of. The full-scale metallic bell has become somewhat of a legend and inspired the saying: “you have to win it to ring it”. Only the best surfers in the world are able to ring the bell.
The Rip Curl Pro attracts the world’s best surfers and every event champion is highly respected amongst their peers. This rings true to today with a list of past champions including Michael Peterson, Mark Richards, Lisa Anderson, Layne Beachley, Stephanie Gilmore and Kelly Slater who have each gone on to win numerous Rip Curl Pro trophies and world titles.
In 2011 the Rip Curl Pro celebrates 50 years of competition at Bells Beach, and it’s no doubt it will be one to remember as all past champions have also been invited to join in the pilgrimage. It will be the first time the elite group of current world tour surfers and past champions gather together to celebrate what is the Rip Curl Pro at Bells Beach.
The Rip Curl Pro is presented by FORD with partners the Victorian Government, Virgin Blue, Telstra, Nature Valley, Tooheys Extra Dry, Jim Beam, Sea-Doo, Tracks, Fuel TV, Power Balance and co-managed by Surfing Victoria.

For more information, please visit: www.ripcurl.eu and a quick thank you to Wavelength for finding the vintage Curren Vs Occy '86 video that's currently featuring on our Youtube page.