Jack brings it home at Bells

Margaret River’s own Jack Robinson took out the fifth stop of the 2025 World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour (CT) on Sunday, claiming victory at the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach competition and ringing the iconic bell for the first time.

Finals day was a mammoth event for surfers and spectators who had been waiting all week for quality waves, culminating in Robinson and fellow Aussie Isabella Nichols hoisting the winners trophies in front of thousands of fans.

It was Robinson’s eighth CT event victory, and he said it would go down as one of his most cherished wins thanks to the historical significance of the event.

“It’s a special day. I have my whole family here, everyone is here. All my team, my whole crew,” Robinson said.

“Right before the Semifinals, we were watching footage of [Joel] Parko and Mick [Fanning] surfing Bells, and then we watched Taj [Burrow], Andy [Irons], and Kelly [Slater], and I was all fired up.

“I drew some inspiration from those guys. I just channelled that and thought ‘be in the moment.'”

After a slower-than-usual start to the season, Robinson has climbed six spots up the rankings to world No. 3 as he continues to search for a maiden World Title.

In the final, Robinson came up against childhood friend and fellow Olympic Silver medallist Kanoa Igarashi (JPN), who was contesting his first final of the season after a solid run through the field at Bells.

Igarashi surfed multiple waves in the final while Robinson played a patient game, only surfing two waves of scoring consequence.

His second was with less than ten minutes left and allowed him to open up, throwing a huge carve and finishing with a layback snap to post a 7.77 and an unassailable lead with a combined total of 14.14.

Robinson joins a long list of his heroes with their names on the famous Bells Trophy and continues to solidify his name as one of the best of his generation.

“I thought there was going to be more waves in the Final,” he said.

“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 it, enjoying the moment, and that’s what it’s all about.”