The Australian surprises himself with his second consecutive win this season -- and ever on the CT -- after tough battles at Bells.
Take a quick glance at the history of Bells Beach champions and you'll find the venerable list could easily be surfing's one and only Hall of Fame. In the past 33 years alone, 75 percent of Rip Curl Pro winners at Bells have held world titles, or were about to.
Yet in this modern age of blow tails and aerial rotations, Bells' slopey face has been falling out of favor with some of today's elite tour stars. Their beef is it's not conducive to today's new brand of acrobatic surfing, which is half true. Aerials weren't on the menu Sunday with Bells being 8-to-10 feet and unruly. But Matty Wilkinson spent the entire week chucking his tail.
Matt Wilkinson's incredible run continued at Bells as he let loose in the unruly conditions. - WSL / Ed Sloane
And what the naysayers forget is that ripping these big chunky faces of Southern Ocean involves a mastery of surfing's revered essentials: speed, power, and flow; none of which will ever go out of style. If you need proof just go back and watch 30-year-old clips of Curren and Occy clashing in the Bells Bowl.
"I think every goofyfooter, still, before you come down here, you watch a bunch of clips of Occy...he'd come off the bottom so hard and rip into the top turn like nobody's ever done. I tried my best to mimic that, but I've got some kind of different turns in my surfing. What I lack in the big power-wraps off the top I feel like I can make up for getting the fins free."
Mick Fanning's Bells success has everything to do with his mastery of speed, power, and flow. But crazy commitment doesn't hurt either. - WSL / Ed Sloane
On Sunday Wilkinson became the first goofyfooter since Occy in 1998 to win at Bells. Occy, by the way, won his first world title the very next year. Wilko mightn't need to wait that long. With his second straight win this year he's taken a commanding 10800 point lead over the competition, guaranteeing that he'll be wearing the yellow jersey on the way to Brazil in May.
Wilkinson's coach, Glenn Hall, has apparently unlocked the beast. - WSL / Kelly Cestari
"I don't know what's going on," he told Ross Williams afterward, trying to explain his miraculous breakout. His best year-end finish to date has been 18th. Traditionally by year's-end, he's just trying to requalify. Now he's seriously thinking about steps he can take to secure a world title.
Italo Ferreira ripped his way into the semifinal at Bells, and will head to Western Australia tied for 5th on the rankings. - WSL / Kelly Cestari
In truth, Wilko's coach Glenn "Micro" Hall has him focusing on small improvements in about 10 different areas of his surfing. "If I can improve 10 percent in each of those 10 areas, that'll be 100 percent improvement," Wilko explained.
He's shattered that goal.
See how Matt Wilkinson's incredible momentum has carried him to his second final of the season at the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach.
Before Wilkinson beat Jordy Smith in the final -- his first time ever beating Smith --Smith beat Mick Fanning, the most successful Bells surfer in history, during his semifinal.
Mick Fanning gave Conner Coffin a lesson in surfing Bells Beach to open their quarterfinal clash.
Fanning looked like he was headed for his fifth Bells crown early in the morning, dismantling rookies Davey Cathels and Conner Coffin by weaving through giant moguls and lacerating the big Bells' walls.
Mick Fanning wasn't holding back in the large Bells' surf. He broke his board in the quarterfinals. - WSL / Ed Sloane
After he lost to Smith in the semifinal Mick stayed on the beach for 30 minutes greeting fans, then took his final walk up Bells' legendary stairs to begin his long-awaited vacation from the tour. Note: he's walking away ranked 5th in the world.
The South African returns to the elite form he's always been known for in his second event of the 2016 Championship Tour season.
For Jordy Smith, a runner-up finish will be a nice confidence booster after his lengthy recovery from injury in 2015. Jordy is heading to Margaret River ranked No. 3 in the world, and still getting warmed up.
Jordy Smith enjoyed matching power with power at Bells, while demonstrating his edge work. - WSL / Ed Sloane
Rookie Conner Coffin is headed to West Oz ranked No. 2 in the world, having already lived up to all the expectations. Still, aside from Wilkinson, his remarkable rocket up the ratings is one of the biggest surprises of the young season. And it should be noted, he's doing it on the strength of his fundamentals.
Samsung Galaxy WSL Championship Tour Rankings after Rip Curl Pro
1. Matt Wilkinson 20000
2. Conner Coffin 9200
3. Jordy Smith 8500
4. Kolohe Andino 8500
5. Mick Fanning 8250
5. Italo Ferreira 8250
5. Stu Kennedy 8250
8. Caio Ibelli 8000
9. Filipe Toleo 7000
10. Adriano de Souza 6950
10. Nat Young 6960
10. Joel Parkinson 6960
10. John Florence 6960
10. Wiggolly Dantas 6960
10. Adrian Buchan 6960
10. Michel Bourez 6960
Bells Champ Matt Wilkinson Has No Idea What's Going On
WSL
Take a quick glance at the history of Bells Beach champions and you'll find the venerable list could easily be surfing's one and only Hall of Fame. In the past 33 years alone, 75 percent of Rip Curl Pro winners at Bells have held world titles, or were about to.
Yet in this modern age of blow tails and aerial rotations, Bells' slopey face has been falling out of favor with some of today's elite tour stars. Their beef is it's not conducive to today's new brand of acrobatic surfing, which is half true. Aerials weren't on the menu Sunday with Bells being 8-to-10 feet and unruly. But Matty Wilkinson spent the entire week chucking his tail.
And what the naysayers forget is that ripping these big chunky faces of Southern Ocean involves a mastery of surfing's revered essentials: speed, power, and flow; none of which will ever go out of style. If you need proof just go back and watch 30-year-old clips of Curren and Occy clashing in the Bells Bowl.
"I think every goofyfooter, still, before you come down here, you watch a bunch of clips of Occy...he'd come off the bottom so hard and rip into the top turn like nobody's ever done. I tried my best to mimic that, but I've got some kind of different turns in my surfing. What I lack in the big power-wraps off the top I feel like I can make up for getting the fins free."
On Sunday Wilkinson became the first goofyfooter since Occy in 1998 to win at Bells. Occy, by the way, won his first world title the very next year. Wilko mightn't need to wait that long. With his second straight win this year he's taken a commanding 10800 point lead over the competition, guaranteeing that he'll be wearing the yellow jersey on the way to Brazil in May.
"I don't know what's going on," he told Ross Williams afterward, trying to explain his miraculous breakout. His best year-end finish to date has been 18th. Traditionally by year's-end, he's just trying to requalify. Now he's seriously thinking about steps he can take to secure a world title.
In truth, Wilko's coach Glenn "Micro" Hall has him focusing on small improvements in about 10 different areas of his surfing. "If I can improve 10 percent in each of those 10 areas, that'll be 100 percent improvement," Wilko explained.
He's shattered that goal.
Before Wilkinson beat Jordy Smith in the final -- his first time ever beating Smith --Smith beat Mick Fanning, the most successful Bells surfer in history, during his semifinal.
Fanning looked like he was headed for his fifth Bells crown early in the morning, dismantling rookies Davey Cathels and Conner Coffin by weaving through giant moguls and lacerating the big Bells' walls.
After he lost to Smith in the semifinal Mick stayed on the beach for 30 minutes greeting fans, then took his final walk up Bells' legendary stairs to begin his long-awaited vacation from the tour. Note: he's walking away ranked 5th in the world.
For Jordy Smith, a runner-up finish will be a nice confidence booster after his lengthy recovery from injury in 2015. Jordy is heading to Margaret River ranked No. 3 in the world, and still getting warmed up.
Rookie Conner Coffin is headed to West Oz ranked No. 2 in the world, having already lived up to all the expectations. Still, aside from Wilkinson, his remarkable rocket up the ratings is one of the biggest surprises of the young season. And it should be noted, he's doing it on the strength of his fundamentals.
Samsung Galaxy WSL Championship Tour Rankings after Rip Curl Pro
1. Matt Wilkinson 20000
2. Conner Coffin 9200
3. Jordy Smith 8500
4. Kolohe Andino 8500
5. Mick Fanning 8250
5. Italo Ferreira 8250
5. Stu Kennedy 8250
8. Caio Ibelli 8000
9. Filipe Toleo 7000
10. Adriano de Souza 6950
10. Nat Young 6960
10. Joel Parkinson 6960
10. John Florence 6960
10. Wiggolly Dantas 6960
10. Adrian Buchan 6960
10. Michel Bourez 6960
News
At the first stop following the Mid-season cut, Championship Tour surfers are prepared to meet the most critical wave on Earth. Teahupo'o
Dr. Chad Nelsen, CEO of the Surfrider Foundation, joins us on The Lineup to discuss his role in protecting the world's oceans, waves, and
John John Florence dives into his long-standing partnership with Pyzel Surfboards, sharing how their close collaboration has led to a
The North Shore delivered yet again to crown Eweleiula Wong and Luke Tema event victors and notching their first-ever QS wins.
Wong and Tema Claim Maiden QS Wins at Famed Sunset Beach