Opening Day of 2026 CT Season Called ON at Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach Presented by Bonsoy

BELLS BEACH, Victoria, Australia (Friday, April 3, 2026) - The first event of the 2026 World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour (CT), the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach Presented by Bonsoy, has been called ON for Day 1 of competition.

Pictured: The reigning WSL World Junior Champion, Dane Henry (AUS), will make his Championship Tour debut today during the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach Presented by Bonsoy. Credit: WSL / Aaron Hughes

Beginning at 5:02 P.M. AEDT, the world's best surfers will begin their campaign towards the 2026 World Title in Victoria, Australia. With a building swell at Bells Beach, the competition was placed on hold until the tide became more favourable for the onshore winds and four-to-five-foot of swell. The late start will mean only the four heats of men's Round One will be completed. There will be no women's competition today.

As competition gets underway, a new CT format will debut. Featuring elimination scenarios in every heat, high stakes are placed on every competitior from the very beginning of the event.

Heat 1 of Round One will see fireworks as CT returner Liam O'Brien (AUS) faces off with CT Rookie Mateus Herdy (BRA) in a sudden-death battle. Although the smooth, powerful lines of O'Brien's rail game are well-suited to the Bells Bowl, Herdy will look to use the onshore breeze to his advantage and bring some of the progression he is renowned for.

Rip Curl Wildcard Dane Henry (AUS) will look to stamp his authority on Round One with an upset over 2026 Rookie Oscar Berry (AUS), with both surfers pulling on the CT jersey for the first time today at Bells in Heat 2. Ramzi Boukhiam (MAR) is on the hunt for redemption this season as he makes his return from a knee injury sustained almost 12 months ago at this exact location. The powerful goofyfooter will look to overcome Rookie Luke Thompson (RSA) in their matchup this afternoon. 

The local crowds will be getting behind the Victoria Trials winner, Xavier Huxtable (AUS), in the last heat of the day when he takes on the former Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach runner-up Callum Robson (AUS), who returns to the CT in 2026. 

Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach Men's Round One Matchups

HEAT 1: Mateus Herdy (BRA) vs. Liam O'Brien (AUS)
HEAT 2: Oscar Berry (AUS) vs. Dane Henry (AUS)
HEAT 3: Luke Thompson (RSA) vs. Ramzi Boukhiam (MAR)
HEAT 4: Callum Robson (AUS) vs. Xavier Huxtable (AUS)