After what’s unfolded already on the 2016 world tour, you’d have to be either brave or stupid to try and predict anything at the moment. The rookies are on a tear, big names have been falling left, right and centre, and a former wild child/tour easy-beat is wearing the yellow jersey and looking pretty damn comfortable in the thing. It’s been a crazy start to the season, and one that’s not ready to fall into any kind of rhythm if the Round 4 match-ups for the Rip Curl Pro are anything to go by. Yet among all the chaos of the early rounds there’s been a few guys who’ve looked consistently on point, and without wanting to put a hoodoo on any of the poor buggers, here’s my picks for the title.
Mick continues to chip away at taking his fifth Bells title. Photo: WSL/SloaneMick Fanning
Mick might be the only safe bet left in the contest, and after the shock loss we saw him suffer on the Goldy, even that’s not certain. Still, he’s definitely been the form surfer of the event so far, posting combined totals of 16-plus points in each of his heats and leaving his opponents well and truly dusted. With four wins already under his belt out here (including back-to-back titles in 2014 and 2015), the man with the slickest competitive act on tour would love nothing more than to claim a record-breaking fifth Bells title before he heads off for a year of soul-searching and reinvention. “If you’re going to pick a favourite right now it’s Mick easily,” said Kelly Slater. “That heat he surfed this morning I think was to perfection.”
Matt Wilko’s transformation in 2016 has been enjoyable to watch. Photo: WSL/CestariMatt Wilkinson
Wilko is surfing bloody good at the moment, there’s no doubt about it. You can see the confidence he’s carrying in his backhand every time he takes off. Where he still looks a little sketchy, however, especially in comparison to veterans like Mick, is in his wave selection. Against Kolohe and Miguel Pupo in Round 1 he made some dodgy decisions, but luckily wasn’t alone and managed to scrape through on the strength of some beautiful backhand hammers. One gets the sense that the universe is kinda on his side at the moment, too, so if he can play it cool and pick the eyes out of whatever the infamous bowl dishes up to him, it wouldn’t be surprising to see the hairy unit go back-to-back and become the first goofy-footer since Occy to ring that bell.
Conner Coffin icing a Bells wall. Photo: WSLConner Coffin
With three of the turns of the contest so far and an impressive showing on the Gold Coast behind him, rookie Californian power-monger Conner Coffin could be the real wrecking ball of this event. His smooth, rail-heavy approach suits Bells down to a tee, and as he showed against Parko in Round 3, he’s not scared to deliver a knock-out punch to the big names when needed. It’s refreshing to see someone so young come on tour with such a well-developed rail game, and for all the comparisons being made to Curren and Dane (which are no doubt apt), it’s flashes of Taylor Knox I keep seeing every time he wraps through the bumpy Bells wall. Fellow Californian Nat Young finished second at this event in his first year on tour, Connor Coffin might just have what it takes to go one better.
Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach Round 4 Match-Ups:
Heat 1:
Italo Ferreira (BRA), Nat Young (USA), Julian Wilson (AUS)
Heat 2: Matt Wilkinson (AUS), Wiggolly Dantas (BRA), Mason Ho (HAW)
Heat 3: Mick Fanning (AUS), Jordy Smith (ZAF), Conner Coffin (USA)
Heat 4: Michel Bourez (PYF), Caio Ibelli (BRA), Davey Cathels (AUS)
