No surfing at Bells on Tuesday

A lay day has been called at the Rip Curl Pro surfing competition at Bells Beach, with conditions forecast to improve by the weekend.

Mediocre waves prompted organisers to call a lay day at the Bells Beach surfing competition. (AAP)

High winds and mediocre waves prompted organisers to call the first lay day at the Rip Curl Pro surfing competition at Bells Beach on Tuesday.

With the third rounds already completed in both the men's and women's events, organisers were content to wait, with conditions expected to pick up again in time for the weekend.

World championship leader Matt Wilkinson and fellow Australian Mick Fanning are well-placed in the men's event after a host of big names - including Brazilians Gabriel Medina and Adriano de Souza, 11-time world champ Kelly Slater and Australian Joel Parkinson - crashed out in the third round.