ROBINSON WINS BELLS BEACH

April 29, 2025

Home surfer celebrates in front of family as Igarashi finishes second and Nichols wins women’s event.

Australian Jack Robinson won the iconic Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach event for the first time on Sunday in front of his family after edging out Japan’s Kanoa Igarashi in the final as Isabella Nichols also won the women’s event on home water.

The fifth stop of the 2025 World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour (CT) saw Robinson out for his first season win after seeing the likes of Ítalo Ferreira and Jordy Smith win already this year on the circuit.

Robinson sneaked through top of a tough Heat 7 to start his challenge, then saw off Jackson Bunch in the Round of 32 with an imperious display and score of 16.13 before having an easier time of it in the Round of 16 against Brazilian Filipe Toledo – thanks to a winning score of 16.53.

Jake Marshall awaited him in the quarter-finals and he got the home fans on their feet as he did just enough by scoring 15.94 to the American’s 14.57, his semi-final against Griffin Colapinto a far tougher affair that he only just managed to navigate with a thrilling 14.67 to 14.33 result.

After a long week of waiting for waves, Finals Day saw the Bells Bowl continue to deliver with semi-clean surf in the four-to-six-foot range as all finalists put on a show for thousands of fans.

Robinson came up against childhood friend and fellow Olympic silver medallist Igarashi, who was contesting his first final of the season after a solid run through the field this week. Igarashi surfed multiple waves while Robinson played a patient game, only surfing two scoring waves.

His second – with less than 10 minutes left – allowed him to open up, throwing a huge carve and finishing with a layback snap to post a 7.77 (out of a possible 10) and an unassailable 14.14 lead that earned him a first title at the iconic event and eighth CT event career victory.

Robinson, 27, said: “I thought there was going to be more waves in the Final. I just had to get in front of Kanoa. It was kind of getting slow, and I needed to turn the heat on. There was a reason why I didn’t go on his waves. The ocean is wild. Surfing is wild, the way that it chooses you. I’m super blessed, and I’m just really grateful. It hasn’t really sunk in. I’m just enjoying the moment.”

After climbing up to world number three in the rankings, he added: “It’s a special day. I have my whole family here, everyone is here. All my team, my whole crew. Right before the semi-finals, we were watching footage of [Joel] Parko and Mick [Fanning] surfing Bells and I was all fired up. I drew some inspiration from those guys. I just channelled that and thought, ‘be in the moment’.”

Igarashi, 27, said: “Jack and I have been hanging out all week, so it’s funny how that all happened, and it all came together. We were going to go gloves off no matter what. It just feels good to be on the hunt again. I’m excited to have a good start to a pretty big leg [here in Australia].”

In the women’s event, defending WSL champion Caitlin Simmers, Caroline Marks, Molly Picklum and Erin Brooks all departed at the Round of 16 stage as Nichols produced a series of brilliant displays to make her way through to the final where she easily saw off Brazil’s Luana Silva 16.26 to 12.67.

Nichols, 27, said: “Words can’t describe how I’m feeling right now. This is definitely the best day of my life. Ever since winning in Margaret River three years ago, I’ve just been chasing this feeling ever since, and I never thought that feeling could be topped, but getting carried up the stairs by my dad and coach and having most of my family here, it’s just an emotion I can’t describe.”