There were mixed fortunes for the local stars on Monday with Mick Fanning sensationally eliminated from the season-opening men’s world surfing championship event on the Gold Coast.
Talented young Brazilian Miguel Pupo took an early lead and held on to win 12.6 points to 11.1, with Fanning hurling his board into the water in frustration as he waded ashore.
But Joel Parkinson, one of the hottest performers in the competition so far, cruised through to round four at his home break of Snapper Rocks.
Five other Australians advanced with Owen Wright, Josh Kerr, Julian Wilson Adrian Buchan and Taj Burrow winning their heats, as did multiple world champion Kelly Slater.
Two decades of experience helped Slater cruise through his first heats.
The Quiksilver Pro defending champion has had an effortless start to his campaign for a 12th world crown and, while several of the top contenders have admitted to early-season nerves, Slater says that’s something he doesn’t have to worry about.
“Twenty years of competing will give you calmness,” he laughed.
“You want nerves to wake you up and get you going and right before I surf sometimes I get a little jitters but, overall, it doesn’t bother me so much, you’re either going to win or you’re going to lose, what’s the big deal huh?”
He advanced from the third round with a comfortable win over fellow American Fred Patacchia but there were tight tussles for Wright and Kerr in the inconsistent waves.
Kerr beat Byron Bay’s Kieren Perrow 15.5 to 14.9 and world No.3 Wright squeaked past NSW Central Coast surfer Matt Wilkinson 14.9 to 14.5 to make the fourth round at Snapper for the first time in his career.
In the women’s competition, four-time world champion Stephanie Gilmore, who delivered a clinical masterclass in her heat to go straight into the quarter-finals, could be given the chance of wrapping up the title on Tuesday.
With conditions forecast to deteriorate later in the day, contest director Jake Paterson said he was considering wrapping up the women’s event early on Tuesday before suspending the men’s competition until the next weather change.
