Age hasn’t wearied 51-year-old surfing legend Kelly Slater, who has survived the elimination round at Bells Beach after waiting two days for decent waves to return to the iconic Victorian break.
But the waves weren’t kind to Australian hope Callum Robson, last year’s Bells runner-up, who has crashed out for the competition.
American Slater, an 11-time world champion, needs a good result at Bells to move above the mid-season cut line, with the men’s field reduced to the top 24 after the next competition at Margaret River.
The 51-year-old, who has competed in almost 100 heats at Bells, said he had to click into gear after taking a break from training on Saturday and getting his board fixed.
“I took the day off and just relaxed, it was real messy and there wasn’t much energy in the swell,” Slater said.
“I actually thought there was a chance we wouldn’t run today … I didn’t stress on it too much and I got up early this morning and saw it was probably on.
“I’ve got to win some heats here to keep myself on the tour but I’ve spent my time just being appreciative, there’s a lot of memories here for me.”
Aussie wipeout
Surfing resumed at the famed Victorian surf break on Sunday after two lay days, with a messy two-metre swell arriving.
World No.7 Robson was in the first heat in the water, looking to improve on last year’s runner-up finish at Bells.
But the 22-year-old, who finished third in the previous world championship tour stop in Portugal, struggled to find high-scoring waves.
Fellow Australian Liam O’Brien was a clear winner with a two-wave total of 15.17, while Hawaiian Ezekiel Lau (9.16) also advanced ahead of Robson (8.07).
Slater, whose first win at the Rip Curl Pro came back in 1996 and last in 2010, lined up against another local hope Connor O’Leary and Carlos Munoz from Costa Rica.
In a tight 35-minute battle, Slater scored 12.00 to triumph while O’Leary edged Munoz by just 0.34, with the latter’s last wave score falling just short.
The women’s elimination round two, featuring two-time world champion and defending Bells winner Tyler Wright, is next in the water followed by the men’s round of 32.
-with AAP
