By Roger Vaughan
Xavier Huxtable is the latest giant killer at Bells Beach, beating surfing world No.1 Italo Ferreira in the Rip Curl Pro.
The Australian, who won entry into the event as a wildcard by winning the Victorian trials, opened Friday’s heats by taking down the Brazilian star as the round of 32 continued.
Huxtable beat Ferreira 13.66 to 9.67 at the Bells Bowl in four-to six-foot waves. It was the ninth of the 16 heats, with the men’s round of 16 to follow and close competition on Anzac Day.
Xavier Huxtable was all smiles.Credit: World Surf League
The men and women will then have reached their quarter-finals, well ahead of the competition window ending on Monday.
Organisers waited two hours on Friday morning before resuming competition in clean conditions.
Ferreira had beaten Huxtable to win their opening-round heat. The third surfer in the heat, Moroccan Ramzi Boukhiam, suffered a freak knee injury and was forced out of the event.
American world No.1 Caitlin Simmers, also the defending champion at Bells Beach, and Australian world No.3 Molly Picklum were shock losers on Thursday in the women’s round of 16.
Australians George Pittar and Jack Robinson are in upcoming round of 32 heats.
