Local hero Joel Parkinson blasted his way through Sunday’s sudden-death second round of the world surfing tour event on the Gold Coast.

Parkinson left young wildcard and trials winner Garrett Parkes from Byron Bay in his wake with two high-scoring waves for a total of 16.36 against Parkes’ 6.43.

West Australian Taj Burrow was also on fire, scoring a near-perfect 9.4 and an 8.7 to beat California’s Dane Reynolds.

Yadin Nicol eliminated promising Brazilian teenager Gabriel Medina and Queensland’s rookie of the year Julian Wilson beat Kai Otton.

Parkinson said having to surf again to make round three turned into a bonus for him.

“All the real meaning is in the man-on-man heats,” he said.

“Today was a bit of a bonus because I haven’t had a heat for so long and it’s good to feel that the ball’s started rolling now.

“Yesterday was the first surf I’ve had at Snapper (Rocks) all year so it’s good to be back out there.”

Saturday was also Burrow’s first surf at Snapper Rocks this year, and he was feeling nervous going into the elimination round.

“Last night I was tossing and turning in bed thinking about what I was going to do against Dane and it actually got me really, really pumped because he’s one of my favourite surfers and his whole approach to surfing is kind of the same as mine,” he said.

“Yesterday in my heat I only caught one piddly little wave so I was just finding my feet.

“But then I saw Dane hang his board out on a couple of turns and it kind of got me pumped.

“I just tried to select the best waves and light them up, and I felt a lot better towards the end.”

In 2011 on the Gold Coast, Burrow was beaten into second place by 11-time world champion Kelly Slater and he’s determined to go one better this time.

“I want to make the podium, I’ve been up there a few times here at Snapper and I love the wave … and the more I surf it the more confident I get out there.”