Bells Beach surfing on hold; small waves, onshore wind

The World Surf League's Rip Curl Pro has been put on hold on Saturday due to unfavourable winds and smaller surf at both Bells Beach and neighbouring Winkipop.

The next call on when to resume competition in the Championship Tour event will be made early on Sunday.

"We are calling the event off today as the waves are small and the onshore wind is ripping it apart," said Renato Hickel, WSL deputy commissioner.

"Expectations are low for tomorrow, but we are hoping that with improved wind, there is enough energy to resume competition.

If not, Monday, there is another bump in swell, so that could also be an option to run the remainder of the men's opening round."

When the event resumes, the men's opening round will pick up with the second heat featuring Australian rookie George Pittar against 2017 Bells winner Jordy Smith, who is fresh off a win in El Salvador, and Brazil's Edgard Groggia.

Victoria Trials winner Xavier Huxtable will look to use his frontside as a point of difference when he takes on goofy-foot duo Italo Ferreira and and Ramzi Boukhiam.

Brazilian Ferreira comes into the event ranked world No.1 and with hopes of claiming his ringing his second Bell. Reigning Bells Beach champion Cole Houshmand will take on Australia's Liam O'Brien and South Africa's Matthew McGillivray.

The opening round of the women's event was held on Friday with Australia's two-time Bells Beach champion Tyler Wright and fellow Australians Molly Picklum, El Salvador runner-up Isabella Nichols and Sally Fitzgibbons among those to progress.