Stop four of the World Surf League (WSL) Rip Curl Pro arrives at Australia’s home of surfing, Bells Beach in Victoria, live and free on Channel Seven from this Sunday at 7.30am AEDT on 7plus.
After a highly decorated career that spanned 17 years, three-time world champion Mick Fanning will return to the waves at Bells Beach this weekend after receiving the event wildcard, following his retirement at the 2018 Rip Curl Pro.
In a bonus for Aussie surfing fans, Australian seven-time world champion Stephanie Gilmore will also feature in the women’s events at Bells Beach, against fellow local surfers Isabella Nichols, Sally Fitzgibbons, Bronte Macaulay, India Robinson and Tyler Wright.
Australian up-and-coming surfing star Molly Picklum will also hit the waves and is looking to be Australia’s best chance at taking out the women’s event.
Following the sport’s triumphant debut at last year’s Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, all of the WSL’s live contests and highlights shows across the 2022 season – including Bells Beach – will be broadcast across the Seven Network and live-streamed on 7plus, Australia’s #1 commercial free-to-air BVOD platform.
The upcoming WSL events broadcast on Seven and 7plus are:
• Rip Curl Pro, Bells Beach: 10 April to 20 April (Stop #4, Championship Tour)
• Margaret River Pro, Margaret River: 24 April to 4 May (Stop #5, Championship Tour)
• Boost Mobile Gold Coast Pro, Gold Coast: 7 May to 15 May (Stop #1, Challenger Series)
• GWM Sydney Surf Pro, Manly Beach: 17 May to 27 May (Stop #2, Challenger Series)
Seven extended it’s partnership with World Surf League as it’s free-to-air broadcaster, covering surfing’s biggest and most iconic events.
Lewis Martin, managing director Seven Melbourne and head of network sport, said: “Surfing is as entrenched in Australian culture as any sport, so we’re stoked to continue our partnership with the World Surf League.
“We can’t wait to bring sport fans all the action from the world’s best surfing events, as we follow our surfers to some the most iconic beach destinations in the world, over the next year – all of it live and free on Seven and 7plus, your Home of Sport,” he added.