The Rip Curl Women’s Pro presented by Ford Fiesta is Stop 2 of the ASP Women’s World Tour calendar and a favourite for many of this year’s competitors.
The women kick off the year on Australia's Gold Coast in February, then make the Easter road trip south for the Rip Curl Pro.
The Rip Curl Women’s Pro will feature the world’s top 17 ASP surfers plus one Wildcard who will win entry via a Trials event.
Silvana Lima became the first Brazilian to win and ring the Bell in 2009, defeating 2007 and 2008 champion Steph Gilmore in the final.
Peruvian surfer Sofia Mulanovich is also a former event champ, winning the event in 2005 and finishing runner-up to Steph in 07 and 08.
Natural footers have won all but one of the Rip Curl Women’s Pro events at Bells Beach (Neridah Falconer in 2001 was the exception), so it's definitely a left-foot-forward friendly wave. That said, records are made to be broken so look out for powerful backhanders like former world champ Chelsea Hedges, 2006 ASP Rookie of the Year Jessi Miley-Dyer and New Zealander Paige Hareb in the near future...
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