AusLeisure

Following an agreement between the Victorian Government and the World Surf League (WSL), the iconic Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach is to remain on Victoria’s Surf Coast until 2028.

Victorian Minister for Tourism, Sport, and Major Events, Steve Dimopoulos announced yesterday that Victoria will remain the home of the world’s longest running surfing competition - that has made Bells Beach a world-renowned surfing destination while injecting millions of dollars into the region.

With an impressive roll call of surfing legends winning the event and earning the right to ‘ring the Bell,’ including Stephanie Gilmore, Layne Beachley, Kelly Slater, and Mick Fanning, the Rip Curl Pro continues to attract some of the world’s best athletes.

The Victorian Government’s support also maintains the local wildcard entry in the men’s and women’s competitions - providing an invaluable opportunity for homegrown emerging talent to surf their local break against the world’s best.

The much-loved event has been a mainstay of Victoria’s packed calendar of major events for decades, helping to boost business in the region over Easter and the school holidays.

Support for the World Surf League event will not only draw visitors to the region but also provide a powerful platform to showcase world-class surf breaks to a global audience, with visuals of Bells Beach, the Surf Coast region, and the Great Ocean Road reaching millions of viewers around the world.

The Rip Curl Pro joins the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race and Amy’s Great Ocean Road Gran Fondo as events that help showcase the region’s tourism appeal thanks to support from the Victorian Government.

Welcoming the event remaining in Victoria, WSL APAC President, Andrew Stark commented “WSL is thrilled to secure the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach until 2028, an iconic event on the WSL Championship Tour, and we sincerely thank the Victorian Government for their ongoing support, ensuring this tradition of ringing the Bell at Bells Beach endures.”

Image credit: Rip Curl.

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