LIVE professional surfing returned to Australian shores on Sunday, with the opening day of the Tweed Coast Pro seeing epic action at Cabarita Headland.
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Australia's best surfers were treated to clean three-to-four foot surf for day one of the specialty charitable event that is part of the Australian Grand Slam of Surfing series.
It was a strong day for the men's and women's top seeds as Australian Olympic team qualifiers Owen Wright, from Culburra Beach, and Stephanie Gilmore posted some of the highest heat totals of the day in their respective divisions.
Wright's razor-sharp backhand attack was in full flight with the current world number 9 progressing into the quarter-finals with a two-wave total of 15.17 (out of a possible 20).
"It felt so good to get out there," Wright said.
"Competing with the guys out there was so great -- the conditions are fun and the sun's out so we're all stoked.
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"I've been really enjoying the time at home and away from competition but as soon as I got here and got back into my training I felt all of the competitive instincts come back like I was back in the zone.
"It's just great to be back competing."
Owen's sister Tyler took her return to competition as an opportunity to make a statement and take a knee in solidarity with Black Lives Matter during her heat today at the Tweed Coast Pro.
Two-time world champion Wright knelt for 439 seconds - one second for every First Nations person in Australia who has lost their lives in police custody since 1991.
In a post on her Instagram account, Wright said.
"Before I'm an athlete, I'm a human being.
"So today, before my heat at the Tweed Coast Pro, I'll be taking a knee in solidarity with Black Lives Matter.
"These are divisive times and I'm a long way from perfect, but I deeply believe in the pursuit of racial justice and equality for everyone.
"I understand that my white privilege and having this platform within the surfing community means I have the choice to say something and do something...and that many don't have that opportunity.
"I need to say more and do more with mine and I'm committed to challenging and changing the systems that continue to discriminate and oppress people of different backgrounds."
The WSL is in full support of Wright and everyone around the world who are making their voices heard against racism and injustice.
Surfing is for everyone and the WSL stands in solidarity to proactively work against racism and fight for true equality.
Wright then paddled out late to her heat and put on an epic performance to take the heat win and progress into the quarter-finals.
Other notable heat winners on Sunday included Culburra Beach's Mikey Wright and Gerroa's Sally Fitzgibbons, as well asJulian Wilson and Nikki van Dijk along with Cabarita local and wildcard surfer Zahli Kelly who progressed over fellow wildcard Philippa Anderson.
On Monday, South Coast women Wright and Fitzgibbons will clash in quarter-final number three, while Owen and Mikey Wright will battle Ethan Ewing and Matthew McGillivray respectively in the men's final eight.
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