Stephanie Gilmore has produced the goods to remain alive in her defence of the World Surf League’s opening event at Snapper Rocks.

In the men’s side, 11-time men’s world champion Kelly Slater confirmed his withdrawal from the event.

Gilmore (15.17 points) looked at ease against South African Bianca Buitendag (10.40) in an elimination second round match-up that was a repeat of the 2014 final.

Her heat win came at the same time Slater pulled the pin, the American having already skipped Sunday’s first round as he continued to suffer pain after foot surgery.

He will be replaced in the draw by Michael February, while defending world champion John John Florence is among a host of big names set to surf elimination rounds now on hold until Tuesday.

Gilmore admitted she had made some poor technical choices in her first round loss, but had remedied them on Monday in a two-person battle she made the most of at the usually packed right-hand break.

“Round two’s a nasty one,” Gilmore said.

“You panic for sure, but as soon as your paddle out on the water it’s a refreshing feeling, you find some peace and quiet out there when it’s usually the other way around.”

With the swell predicted to decline during the day, organisers have elected to push ahead with the smaller-field women’s competition and potentially complete the third round and quarter-finals if conditions allow.

Gilmore joins defending world champion Tyler Wright and fellow Australians Sally Fitzgibbons, Macy Callaghan, Keely Andrew and potentially Bronte Macaulay in third round action later on Monday.

It mean’s men’s second round battles featuring Australians Matt Wilkinson, Wade Carmichael, Joel Parkinson and Mikey Wright, Florence and 2014 world champion Gabriel Medina won’t be surfed until at least Tuesday.