- WSL / Ed Sloane
- WSL / Ed Sloane

Nat Young came out strong at the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach looking fired up and ready to do battle. After advancing directly to Round 3, Young proved to be the stopping point of Stuart Kennedy's Cinderella run. For the California based goofyfoot, it's not surprising that he feels right at home in the chilly waters of Victoria in the south of Australia.

Heat Recap: Round 1, Heat 10
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Nat Young puts in another solid performance in his Bells opener, extending his love affair with the wave that's treated him well throughout his career.

"It's got a similar feel, the face of the wave is a big face and not super bowly. Snapper we don't get many waves like that. And the cold, I really like the cold," said Young.

The Santa Cruz native has done well here before, in his rookie season (2013) he earned a second place finish, which still ranks among his best results on Tour. And at last year's event he went down in the Semis to would-be event winner Mick Fanning. Feeling at home could just be the secret to ringing the bell for the first time in 2016, but he'll have to face Rookie of the Year Italo Ferreira and an equally inform Julian Wilson in Round 4.

Nat Young heads out for his Round 1 heat. Nat Young feeling right at home at Bells Beach. - WSL / Kirstin Scholtz

"I think there's definitely certain places on Tour that certain guys feel more comfortable and can relate to home at," said Young. "This for me is the most relatable to Santa Cruz. I don't know if that's why I've done good here in the past, but I definitely like coming here for that reason."

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