Molly Picklum hits Bells Beach as the No.1 ranked surfer eyeing off the iconic trophy

Molly Picklum’s natural upward trajectory would point towards her ringing the iconic Bells Beach trophy sometime in the next few days not just because of the No.1 ranking she’s bringing to the event.

The 21-year-old from the NSW central coast is red-hot in 2024, having made two finals from three events, taking out the Hurley Pro at Sunset Beach before losing out to Caitlin Simmers in the Lexus Pipe Pro before heading home to Australia.

Picklum hits the traditional Easter showdown at Bells Beach, which is set to roll on Tuesday amid expectations of good waves, with memories of making the final in 2023, beaten only by compatriot Tyler Wright who, as the back-to-back champion, looms as a big obstacle to overcome in her pursuit of victory.

But the ascension to the final last year came on the back of losing in the first round in 2022 on the Victorian surf coast.

It’s been that rapid sort of rise for Picklum who has a sense of something special about her, and is eyeing off her chance to make some noise this year.

“Yeah - it makes sense, doesn’t it?,” Picklum said on Monday about the logical next step in her Bells Beach adventure.

“Getting second, it does sting, for sure. But there’s a silver lining in everything and I’m happy to be back.

“Bells is like a big warm hug for me ... to come home and feel at home.

“I want to be the person who is ringing that hear that bell ringing above my head, for sure.”

While Picklum hits Bells Beach as No.1 fellow Aussie Ethan Ewing isn’t far behind at No.2 and has already run the bell after an emotional victory last year, joining his mother, Helen (nee Lambert), who the event in 1983.

Returning is enough to stir Ewing again because he said “everything that I do” in the sport is for his mum, who passed away in 2015.

“Last year was such a special event for me, and it will be pretty hard to top that one,” Ewing said.

“Every tour win is super special but that was extra special. There was a lot of work that went into it, as well as my mum’s history here.

“It’s a challenging event to win, and a wave that’s hard to surf well and I’m just excited to do my best here and try and enjoy myself.

“I saw my name on the stairs this morning, it’s there forever now, and I want to put it on there again this year.”

Picklum also looms as next in line to potentially sign the sort of life-changing deal her long-time hero, and now sometimes mentor, Steph Gilmore recently signed.

The eight-time world champion, currently on a year-long sabbatical from the tour, inked a contract with Rip Curl for eight years and many millions of dollars.

From Picklum’s perspective, it was well-earned for someone who she labelled the “absolute queen of surfing”, but more importantly someone who has the sort of perspective which is inspiring the next generation.

“The thing I take most out of Steph, obviously she’s really competitive and she would have some crazy knowledge in the jersey, but I just think how cool and calm she is,” Picklum, who will go up against another Aussie in Isabella Nicholls when the event begins on Tuesday, said.

“It’s how genuine she is, the love of our sport, to enjoy your surfing. She’s been on tour I think for 17 years and she’s enjoyed every single year.”

AUSSIES IN ACTION AT BELLS BEACH

WOMEN

Molly Picklum, Isabella Nichols, Sophie McCulloch, India Robinson, Tyler Wright, Sally Fitzgibbons, Ellie Harrison

MEN

Ethan Ewing, Jack Robinson, Morgan Cibilic, Jacob Willcox, Tully Wylie, Ryan Callinan, Liam O’Brien, Callum Robson