Following his opening-round heat win at Barra de la Cruz, where his 12.73 saw him win heat eight of the opening round - edging older brother Owen (11.80) and Brazil's Yago Dora (10.76), the 24-year-old explained he wants to concentrate on free-surfing in the near future.

"Obviously, over here, this is a pretty iconic wave and they haven't had a contest here in a while, which makes it all the sicker to be competing here," Wright said.

"With that being said, this is going to be my last event, as I'll be going back to free surfing and chase those swells.

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"I got on tour pretty quick and left competing when I was younger because it isn't really what I'm about - I have more fun surfing for long hours in the day rather than in heats.

"I'm going to go back to doing that, making videos and putting out content that I like - really showing the world what I can do on a board.

"It's been fun a time, as I got here and qualified for the tour pretty quick, meaning I didn't really have time to think is this what I really want.

"I've proud of everything I've achieved and am really excited for what's next for me in the surf."

Both Culburra Beach Boardriders have progressed straight through to round three with their opening-round result.

The pair's sister Tyler also progress on Tuesday, where her second-place finish in heat six was enough to move her onto the round of 16.

Wright's 11.97 saw her finish behind United States' Caroline Marks (15.03) and ahead of US' Sage Erickson (11.53) - putting her into heat six of the round of 16.

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Fellow South Coast product Sally Fitzgibbons is also through the final 16 after dominating her opening round heat.

In heat one, the Gerroa talent scored 14.27 to defeat Brazil's Silvana Lima (12.90) and Sunshine Coast's Keely Andrew (11.96).

""We have so many amazing women on tour," said Fitzgibbons.

"It's so hard to win a heat, let alone make it to the final five.

"I believe I'm capable of it though, I know what I have to do, so I'll keep plugging it away, and hopefully, I'll be there next month."

Fitzgibbons will return to the water in heat three of the round of 16.

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