THE opening day of the World Surf League (WSL) Freshwater Pro, the seventh stop of the women's Championship Tour (CT) and eighth stop of the men's CT, fired into action with the world's best taking on perfection at the Surf Ranch.
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The pressure-cooker was in full effect with men's round of 36, featuring Culburra Beach's Owen Wright, powering through half of their contingent and the women's round of 18, including Gerroa's Sally Fitzgibbons, getting underway.
The implications of this event are paramount and tested the world's best with all eyes on them as some thrived and others merely survived.
At the end of day one, Wright has scored of 6.33 an 6.27 on the left run and 6.93 and 4.33 on the right - for a best two-wave score of 13.26.
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This score sees the Culburra Beach Boardrider currently sit in 10th, with only the top eight surfers progressing to the next round.
Brazil's Gabriel Medina is setting the pace thus far with 17.77 to his name, with United States' Griffin Colapinto (15.50) and Brazil's Italo Ferreira (14.97) rounding out the top three.
In the women's competition, France's Johanne Defay (17.50), as Fitzgibbons is wet to hit the water.
Neither of Owen Wright's two siblings, Tyler or Mikey, are competing at this event, due to ongoing health and injuries concerns.