The competitors showcased their flair in the three-to-four foot (1 - 1.2 metre) waves at Keramas to improve their seeds and avoid the dreaded elimination round.

The top two surfers in each heat will advance directly to round three (round of 32 for men, round of 16 for women), while the third place finishers will go to the elimination round (round two).

The first two of the Culburra Beach Wright brothers to hit the water was Owen, who placed second in heat seven.

Wright's score of 10.33 saw him finish behind Brazil's Yago Dora (11.63) and ahead of Australia's Soli Bailey (9.50) - which was enough for him to progress to round three.

His younger brother Mikey also progressed to round three by easily winning heat 11.

The Culburra Beach Boardrider totalled a combined two-wave score of 12.00, which saw him finish ahead of France's Joan Duru (9.50) and Japan's Kanoa Igarashi (1.77).

Not to be outdone was Gerroa's Sally Fitzigbbons, who won here opening round heat against United States Lakey Peterson and New Zealand's Paige Hareb.

Fitzgibbons score of 14.13 saw her edge out Peterson (10.34) and Hareb (9.57) to win heat four - which qualifies her for the round of 16.