Bells surf trophy takes toll as Smith wins

The next stop for South African surfer Jordy Smith after winning at Bells Beach for the first time might be a dental clinic.

Jordy Smith of South Africa

South African surfer Jordy Smith has won the final of the Rip Curl Pro at Bells Beach in Victoria. (AAP)

After trying for a decade, Jordy Smith's first title at Bells Beach will come with a trip to the dentist.

As the South African surfer finally rang world sport's loudest trophy late on Wednesday, the bell hit him in the mouth and chipped a tooth.

"Hells Bells, huh? Geez, it comes with injuries," he said.

Smith acknowledged that might have been Bells Beach telling him off after he mimicked ringing the bell halfway through his final against Brazilian Caio Ibelli.

"I think that maybe was a little curse ... it just hit me right on the tooth," he said.

The South African dominated the final, beating Ibelli 18.90 to 17.46.

Smith's first Rip Curl Pro title comes after being runner-up last year to Australian Matt Wilkinson.

It is the sixth championship tour event win for the South African star, the runner-up on the tour last year and in 2010.

Smith is ranked second again behind reigning world champion John John Florence after the three-event Australian leg of the tour.

"I'm over the moon - I've been coming here for my 10th year now," Smith said.

"I've had some of the greatest performances of my career out here, so to come away with the win today was truly a dream come true."

Florence looked unstoppable through the event and was the red-hot favourite to ring the bell for the first time.

He unleashed spectacular aerials to beat Australian star Mick Fanning twice on Wednesday - in round four at the start of the day and then to eliminate the four-time Bells Beach champion in the quarter-finals.

But on the last wave of their semi-final, Florence made a small mistake and Ibelli took full toll, beating him in a huge upset.

Smith also needed the last wave of his semi-final to dispatch Hawaiian Ezekiel Lau.

While Ibelli was unable to repeat his giant-killing form against Smith, he was rapt to make his first championship tour final.

"This is the best Easter I've ever had," Ibelli said.

While Florence is in scintillating form, his shock semi-final loss shows nothing is guaranteed in the world title race.

"He's in a league of his own. He's an amazing surfer, a really good friend," Smith said.

"If I learned anything from last year, he (Florence) only started his run from Brazil - it's a long year.

"When people falter, you just have to capitalise."

Fanning's fifth place was his best result in the three Australian events that open the world tour.

He has returned to the tour full-time after last year's sabbatical.

Fanning was among three Australians in contention at the start of Wednesday's action, staged in solid two-metre surf at the Bells Bowl.

He beat Owen Wright in the fifth round, where Joel Parkinson also bowed out.


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Source: AAP



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