Australian tube master Jack Robinson has outshone legend Kelly Slater as he joined four countrymen in scoring first-round heat wins in the World Surf League's season-opening Billabong Pro Pipeline.
West Australian Robinson lived up to to his reputation in superb waves at famed Banzai Pipeline on Saturday (Sunday AEST).
In his 30th year on the tour, Slater is a seven-time champion at Pipeline and he was raving about the conditions, saying it was "probably one of, if not the best day I've ever seen" for a tour event at the Hawaiian venue.
But Robinson wowed with two near-perfect rides both scoring over nine out of 10 as he tallied 18.67 to win from Slater (16.57) and Peru's Lucca Mesinas (12.3).
"Watching the conditions, it's easy to get too excited today so I was just trying to calm down," Robinson said.
"I'm trying to not think too far ahead and just enjoy every moment of competing out there."
Robinson showed his tube-riding class when he claimed his first championship tour victory as a rookie in Mexico last August.
Other Australian first-round winners were Olympic bronze medallist Owen Wright, Connor O'Leary, Ethan Ewing and rookie Jackson Baker.
Competing at the same break that nearly ended his career a few years ago when he sustained a traumatic head injury, Wright showed no hesitation as he locked into two big lefts to take the first heat win of the season ahead of local Ezekiel Lau and South Africa's Jordy Smith.
"My eyes lit up at that wave that just seemed to be stretched out to the channel," Wright said.
"Often today you'll see really short barrels but this one just kept giving to me, it's so nice to get this as the first wave of the season.
"Being the WSL wildcard, I'll be going up against the top seeds but that's the guys I've competed against for 10 years so I feel good about myself."
Fellow goofy footer O'Leary took full advantage of surfing on his forehand in the spitting lefts, dropping late into two bombs to rack up an impressive 15.50 total and win from No.5 ranked countryman Morgan Cibilic and Brazil's Caio Ibelli.
"That was easily the session of my life," O'Leary said.
Ewing (12.76) won his heat from American Kolohe Andino and local Imaikalani deVault.
Baker won a low-scoring heat from Brazil's Miguel Pupo and Frederico Morais of Portugal.
