Great Forecast For Bells
Next week the 50th anniversary of the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach will begin, with high expectations for both the contest and the waves. Adding to the excitement surrounding the gold anniversary is a hive of activity showing up on the weather charts in the Southern Ocean next week.
Bells Beach is a fickle beast, with a dependance on large swells often resulting in the competition shifting away from its spiritual home. A move to Woolamai in 2005 and to 13th Beach and Johanna last year are two recent examples. But when the Southern Ocean is up and roaring, the Surf Coast provides some of the best waves in Victoria.
The contest window kicks off next Tuesday, and the westerly storm track is expected to move into gear just in time. A progression of cold fronts will push up towards Victoria from late Sunday onwards, generating a series of strong groundswells for the first half of the waiting period. Late Tuesday should see the first signs of new energy, building further Wednesday ahead of a solid six foot swell on Thursday that'll swing nicely into the Bells Bowl.
One of the great things about the Surf Coast is its coastal alignment - under such strong frontal progressions, winds are frequently offshore from the north-west. This should be the case Wednesday and Thursday with clean waves expected at Bells Beach; its natural amphitheatre offering a great viewing platform.
Anticipation is deservedly high among those keeping an eye on the upcoming contest, and hopefully we see great waves and surfing for the 50th gold anniversary.
For a more detailed analysis of the outlook for the Torquay region during the contest check out the Victorian forecast this Friday and further on Monday and Wednesday next week. //CRAIG BROKENSHA
Comments
For an even more detailed analysis can we assume "the outsider" will make an appearance..?You riding into Dodge again ,Steve ?
You never know, Ridgway might have forgotten/forgiven your previous transgressions and let you into the beer tent.Otherwise you can just get Nick Carroll to pass a few cold ones under the back flap a'la the Q pro... 50TH anniversary, be no shortage of suitable legends around for off the cuff interviews and quotes !
I have a few old rip curl stubby coolers floating around the shed you can have to help you mingle in if required...just can't seem to locate that original pair of stubbies!
High expectations indeed !!(or is that "great expectations "in the literary world)
cheers
Would be very interested to see if the outsider could get an exclusive with J'Flo and throw at him a couple of curly's regarding Burleigh that the ASP and Quiksilver left unanswered.
That's if his knee is all better?
Yes, The Outsider is attending the Rip Curl Pro.
Just hopping on the greyhound bus now ......26hrs from the Ox to Melbourne.
Hope they can fit my 7'0".
Erm, not wishing to be too curmudgeonly or anything, but I do think, Craig, that saying "the Surf Coast provides some of the best waves in Victoria" is analogous with describing Jen Hawkins as the best looking chick in Myer Melbourne. But enough of the nitpicking: Bells kicks off next week, the freerider is ridin' the bus (hmmm, Fear and Loathing is not nearly descriptive enough for that odyssey), autumn swell is on the move, so all's well with my little world.
mr 76, as swellnet club captain and reserve wax caddy i belive that you did send me my invite and it got lost in the mail didnt it mr outsider? so one will take a raincheck and forgive this transgression, luckily for you one is otherwise indisposed read sulking in the corner one expects a blow by blow account posted on this site by no later than when you awake every two days or so, go forth young man, this could mean death for you but it is a chance ,that i , bigwayne am willing to take
"..clean waves.." ?!
Looking forward to your purple prose freeride. Allusions to Popper, Keats, Shakespeare and Sun Tzu all expected.
Godspeed!