Held at Honolua Bay, the season finally got underway in five-to-eight foot waves, after three straight lay days due to small conditions.

Culburra Beach's Tyler Wright showed why many have her pegged as a big threat to claim her third world crown this season by dominating both of her heats.

The 26-year-old one her round one showdown with a 15.57 against United States' Caroline Marks (11.43) and Sunshine Coast's Isabella Nichols (7.16) - progressing her straight into the round of 16.

Read more: Camp disharmony has potential to derail Hockeyroos' Olympic dream

Here she edged out France's Johanne Defay 13.83 to 13.70, to move onto the quarter-finals, where she'll face seven-time world champion Stephanie Gilmore in a mouth-watering match-up.

While Gerroa's Sally Fitzgibbons didn't have quite as easy of a ride into the final eight but got there all the same.

The Kiama High School alumna finished third in her opening round heat with a 6.96, to place behind France's Defay (10.36) and Costa Rica's Brisa Hennessy (8.50).

Read more: Clune out to cement his spot in Dragons' halves

This put Fitzgibbons into the elimination round, where she stood tall and won her match, scoring a 14.07, to oust United States' Sage Erickson (14.00) and Sunshine Coast's Keely Andrew (11.30).

Then in the round of 16, a solid 8.07 ride helped Fitzgibbons post a 15.24, to overcome Phillip Island's Nikki Van Dijk (14.70) - to move her into the final eight, where she'll go toe-to-toe with United States' Lakey Peterson in the semi-finals.

We depend on subscription revenue to support our journalism. If you are able, please subscribe here. If you are already a subscriber, thank you for your support.