Bell's is the longest running and most prestigious World Championship Tour surfing event, with Easter Friday through to Easter Monday as the major finals days.The world's top 44 men surfers and top 12 women surfers come to the Torquay to compete for one of surfing's truly prestigious trophies. Time has proven just what a great event this is.

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.