Kelly Slater's immediate future in the sport he has dominated for decades will be revealed within days.
The greatest surfer in professional history and current men's world number one is deciding whether he will try to win a 12th world title or retire.
"That may be it for me," Slater said after his magnificent Pipeline victory at the weekend.
Slater will turn 50 on Thursday.
The next tour event is scheduled to begin at Sunset Beach on Friday. Not even the World Surf League (WSL) knows what he will do.
It would not surprise organisers if the champion went out on "the best win of my life".
However, there is great temptation to have a go at one more crown, as the reformatted tour schedule is favourable to Slater.
After Hawaii, the top 34 male surfers will travel to Portugal and Australia.
A mid-season cut will diminish the field to 24, then there will be more events in South America, South Africa, and Tahiti.
The world championship is to be decided by a season-ending final of the top-five ranked surfers at Lower Trestles, California.
Up until now, guesses at Slater's future on the 2022 tour have focused on his COVID-19 vaccination status.
If the American wants to continue competing, he will have to be jabbed. Several host countries — including Australia — require proof.
Slater spoke out against Australia's treatment of tennis champion Novak Djokovic with this comment on a New York Times Instagram post:
"Maybe Stockholm Syndrome can now change its name to Melbourne/Australia syndrome.
"It's sad to see the celebrated division by the 'virtuous' vaccinated. If you're vaccinated, why are you concerned/worried about anyone else's status … unless, of course, it doesn't protect you? Or you're scared you'll catch it or upset you had to take the risk of vaccination yourself. So much brainwashed hatred in people's hearts regardless of vax status."
It is unknown whether Slater is vaccinated or prepared to be vaccinated.
The WSL does not say vaccination is compulsory, but competitors understand that under a new format it would be almost impossible to miss multiple events and retain world tour status.
Bells Beach prepares for return to the tour
Preparations are underway for the return of Bells Beach to the world tour in April.
The 2021 edition of the famous event was cancelled because of COVID-19.
''The Rip Curl Pro is the most significant event on the Surf Coast calendar so of course we're very excited to have it back after missing the past couple of years due to COVID,'' Surf Coast Mayor Libby Stapleton said.
''It's the longest-running world championship event on the World Surf League tour, and we love the buzz it creates along the Surf Coast.
''The fact that this year's Bells event will open the Australian leg of the WSL Championship Tour for the first time in over two decades adds to the anticipation.
"He's won the event four times and he's a champion surfer.''
Organisers are expecting almost all the world's top-ranked surfers to be in Australia.
Of those athletes currently competing in Hawaii, Slater remains the only uncertainty to travel Down Under.
Brazilian Gabriel Medina was vaccinated before he pulled out of the Pipeline competition because of his mental health.
"I'm not in a place where I believe I can perform against the world's best surfers right now," Medina wrote on Instagram two weeks ago.
Three-time world champion Medina said he hoped to return to the tour.
Every top-ranked female competitor is expected to commit to a full schedule of events.
Moana Jones Wong is ranked number one in the world after her historic Pipeline victory.
