Groundswell's Hot Picks For The 2010 Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach
(Wednesday, March 24, 2010)
With the upcoming Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach just around the corner, we're going to change things up just a little for our Hot list. We'll be looking at 3 surfers for each price category that can help your team. The three categories are Upper-level (valued at $9 million and Higher), Mid-level (Valued from $4 million to just below $9 million), and Lower-level (Below $4 million). It's a nuts and bolts approach to getting the best value for your team. Here we go:
Upper Level
(Valued at $9 Million and Higher)
1 - Taj Burrow - At this point how could you NOT pick Burrow? He's won or made the final of the past 4 events he's surfed in. He has confidence, he has a solid track record at Bells, and he's probably the hottest competitive surfer on earth right now. This is a really tough call if your betting with your heart, but if you're using your head, this one's an easy choice.
2 - Mick Fanning - With the controversy swirling around Fanning regarding some statements he made last December, expect him to shut down the smiling, happy-faced personality a bit and rev up that copetitive animal the rest of the tour hates to see. Basically, he's a little bit of a gamble, but knowing Mick - he'll channel that into some sort of motivation and start hammering away at the competition.
3 - Kelly Slater - Slater's value is relatively low compared to what we're used to seeing it at. But then again, his results aren't where we are used to seeing them at either. He lost in Round 4 on the Gold Coast. That's actually not all that unusual. On the Gold Coast, he has a history of either winning or losing in Rounds 3 or 4. Last year he lost early at Bells to owen Wright, but the 9-time champ has a tendency to pull miracles out of the bag at the last minute. If Slater can avoid some young gun in the early rounds, he's a pretty solid lock for the semifinals.
Mid Level
(Valued from just below $9 million to $4 million)
1 - Dane Reynolds (pictured above) - Last year at Bells, the big controversy was sparked by Dane losing in the "new format" Round 1 to Owen Wright. Don't expect to see that much controversy surrounding him this year. He's steadily getting used to the pressure of being the favorite in almost every heat he surfs - despite what he says about not caring about his results. It's almost a given that his style is setting the bar for the progressive judging that's taking place on tour now. This could still be one of the last times you're going to see him in the mid-level values. Why not scoop him up now, while you can still squeeze in someone like Taj as well?
2 - Jordy Smith - Jordy has stepped up just as steadily as Dane Reynolds. Everything that was just said about Reynolds applies equally to Jordy. Get him on your team now - while he's still somewhat affordable.
3 - Kekoa Bacalso - In 2009, Bacalso made the Quarterfinals before he was taken down by wildcard Adam Robertson. If he can avoid someone on a tear like Robertson, he's a solid darkhorse pick to nab you a solid score for this event.
Lower Level
(Below $4 million)
1 - Owen Wright - There aren't a lot of goofy-footed surfers on this list for a reason; no goofy has won Bells since Occy did it back in 1998. That's quite a long time to consider the results a fluke or by chance. The bottom line is that regular-footed surfers have a distinct advantage. In 2009, Wright hinted that maybe he's a solid goofy-foot at this location and could stand a solid chance. Last year he eliminated Reynolds and Slater. This year? Well, he could improve on that, but for his price - a solid finish in the quarterfinals would make him well worth the price.
2 - Matt Wilkinson - Wilko has surfed in the Bells event previously. In 2009, he came up against Jordy Smith in Round 1, and Jordy posted an astounding 18.70 points. Not much you can do against that, really. But if Wilkinson can sneak by a few surfers in the early rounds, he just may earn you a solid result in an unexpected place.
3 - Dusty Payne - This pick is based upon potential alone. Payne has no history at Bells, and performed about how you'd expect a rookie to on the Gold Coast. But if he can break free some of his incredible turns on the long walls at Bells, he could shock a few of the top seeds en route to a solid finish.
Wildcard Level
(Valued at $1.5 Million)
1 - Trials Winner - Stuart Kennedy and Gabriel Medina have been named to the event as Rip Curl's picks for the sponsors wildcards. But I'm saying that the best bet at the wildcard price is the local trials winner. Adam Robertson proved it last year - local knowledge rules at Bells. If you have to select a wildcard, this is your best bet.
(Wednesday, March 24, 2010)
With the upcoming Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach just around the corner, we're going to change things up just a little for our Hot list. We'll be looking at 3 surfers for each price category that can help your team. The three categories are Upper-level (valued at $9 million and Higher), Mid-level (Valued from $4 million to just below $9 million), and Lower-level (Below $4 million). It's a nuts and bolts approach to getting the best value for your team. Here we go:
Upper Level
(Valued at $9 Million and Higher)
1 - Taj Burrow - At this point how could you NOT pick Burrow? He's won or made the final of the past 4 events he's surfed in. He has confidence, he has a solid track record at Bells, and he's probably the hottest competitive surfer on earth right now. This is a really tough call if your betting with your heart, but if you're using your head, this one's an easy choice.
2 - Mick Fanning - With the controversy swirling around Fanning regarding some statements he made last December, expect him to shut down the smiling, happy-faced personality a bit and rev up that copetitive animal the rest of the tour hates to see. Basically, he's a little bit of a gamble, but knowing Mick - he'll channel that into some sort of motivation and start hammering away at the competition.
3 - Kelly Slater - Slater's value is relatively low compared to what we're used to seeing it at. But then again, his results aren't where we are used to seeing them at either. He lost in Round 4 on the Gold Coast. That's actually not all that unusual. On the Gold Coast, he has a history of either winning or losing in Rounds 3 or 4. Last year he lost early at Bells to owen Wright, but the 9-time champ has a tendency to pull miracles out of the bag at the last minute. If Slater can avoid some young gun in the early rounds, he's a pretty solid lock for the semifinals.
Mid Level
(Valued from just below $9 million to $4 million)
1 - Dane Reynolds (pictured above) - Last year at Bells, the big controversy was sparked by Dane losing in the "new format" Round 1 to Owen Wright. Don't expect to see that much controversy surrounding him this year. He's steadily getting used to the pressure of being the favorite in almost every heat he surfs - despite what he says about not caring about his results. It's almost a given that his style is setting the bar for the progressive judging that's taking place on tour now. This could still be one of the last times you're going to see him in the mid-level values. Why not scoop him up now, while you can still squeeze in someone like Taj as well?
2 - Jordy Smith - Jordy has stepped up just as steadily as Dane Reynolds. Everything that was just said about Reynolds applies equally to Jordy. Get him on your team now - while he's still somewhat affordable.
3 - Kekoa Bacalso - In 2009, Bacalso made the Quarterfinals before he was taken down by wildcard Adam Robertson. If he can avoid someone on a tear like Robertson, he's a solid darkhorse pick to nab you a solid score for this event.
Lower Level
(Below $4 million)
1 - Owen Wright - There aren't a lot of goofy-footed surfers on this list for a reason; no goofy has won Bells since Occy did it back in 1998. That's quite a long time to consider the results a fluke or by chance. The bottom line is that regular-footed surfers have a distinct advantage. In 2009, Wright hinted that maybe he's a solid goofy-foot at this location and could stand a solid chance. Last year he eliminated Reynolds and Slater. This year? Well, he could improve on that, but for his price - a solid finish in the quarterfinals would make him well worth the price.
2 - Matt Wilkinson - Wilko has surfed in the Bells event previously. In 2009, he came up against Jordy Smith in Round 1, and Jordy posted an astounding 18.70 points. Not much you can do against that, really. But if Wilkinson can sneak by a few surfers in the early rounds, he just may earn you a solid result in an unexpected place.
3 - Dusty Payne - This pick is based upon potential alone. Payne has no history at Bells, and performed about how you'd expect a rookie to on the Gold Coast. But if he can break free some of his incredible turns on the long walls at Bells, he could shock a few of the top seeds en route to a solid finish.
Wildcard Level
(Valued at $1.5 Million)
1 - Trials Winner - Stuart Kennedy and Gabriel Medina have been named to the event as Rip Curl's picks for the sponsors wildcards. But I'm saying that the best bet at the wildcard price is the local trials winner. Adam Robertson proved it last year - local knowledge rules at Bells. If you have to select a wildcard, this is your best bet.
