Torquay / Bells and The
Great Ocean Road, Victoria Australia (2)
.
As championship
surfing has evolved, quality wave venues have become a major
focus along with attracting great live crowds to see surfing
performed at its most extreme. And that's why the Rip Curl
/ Sunsmart Classic is such a special event it delivers outstanding
waves in a magnificent natural surfing auditorium at Bells
Beach. Large three to four meter waves are common along with
excellent quality smaller waves during the prime autumn season
for surf along this stretch of coast.
The event also has the ability to go mobile should the waves
at Bells Beach be unsuitable. The ability to take the contest
down to Winkipop or Johanas, or even Easter Reef if conditions
dictate, overcomes the syndrome know as "Bells Bonkers".
This occurs during the long flat spells that occasionally
settle over the area.
.
Bells
Beach remains the heart of the event and generally most of the
surfing during Easter takes place at Bells. It's an ideal time
of the year for solid ground swells and offshore north-westerly
winds. But during the event's 12 day waiting period surf conditions
may dictate a move to some of the other outstanding waves which
lie along Victoria's Great Ocean Road.
.
.
Lorne, Anglesea and the smaller Apollo Bay are three beachside
tourist towns along the Great Ocean Road also with some surf
beaches. They get very crowded on weekends in summer with families
from from the nearby large city of Melbourne.
