THE Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach, stop number two of the 2019 World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour (CT), will see its 56th year of competition commence this week at one of professional surfing's most iconic locations - with Culburra Beach brothers Owen and Mikey Wright as well as Gerroa's Sally Fitzgibbons ready to dominate.
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The Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach is the longest-running surfing event on the planet, dating back to the Bells Beach Easter Classic in 1973.
Bells Beach is a sacred place to Indigenous Australians, with the Wathaurong People considering it one of their "Songlines" (or Dreaming Tracks).
This sentiment has seeped into the surfing world and Bells has long been considered a holy site in surfing - the annual Easter pilgrimage to Bells Beach has been labeled "the Gathering of the Tribe".
Owen Wright, who will be out to out the Bells Beach trophy to his three career CT title, will battle France's Jeremy Flores and Brazil's Jadson Andre in heat one of round one.
While his brother Mikey, who reached the quarter-finals at the opening event on the Gold Coast, is pitted against Japan's Kanoa Igarashi and Brazil's Peterson Crisanto in the 12th heat of the first round.
Not to be outdone is Fitzgibbons, who comes into the event fresh off a third place finish at the Gold Coast.
She will go toe-to-toe against France's Johanne Defay and United States' Sage Erickson in round one.
