Getting serious about the world surfing tour has paid immediate dividends for Australian pair Matt Wilkinson and Tyler Wright.
The duo claimed the men's and women's crowns at the season-opening World Surf League event on the Gold Coast on Wednesday.
Wilkinson's win was his maiden world tour title after seven years of trying.
The 27-year-old goofy-footer defeated Kolohe Andino by a mere 0.54 of a point after a nailbiting wait on the beach for the American's final score to drop.
It's a breakthrough moment for Wilkinson, who says he's getting serious about his competitive surfing in 2016.
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"It's been a goal of mine since I was 10 years old," he said.
"I think I had a few years where I was just dawdling along and not really doing all I could to win.
"This year I've really knuckled down and I really wanted to get a win this year and for it to come in the first event feels unbelievable."
Wright's success is not her first at Snapper Rocks, having won the title here in 2013.
But Wednesday's win was clearly a special one for the NSW surfer, especially with injured brother Owen Wright watching on.
The fallout from her brother's serious head injury sustained during a terrifying wipeout in Hawaii last year has focused Wright's mind on one goal - winning the world title.
A two-time championship runner-up, Wright set the template for her 2016 campaign by defeating multiple world champions Stephanie Gilmore and Carissa Moore on her way to the final.
She then dominated her clash with American Courtney Conlogue in the decider to take the world No.1 ranking.
"I was on my brother's shoulders and they whispered to me 'hey, look up there' and there was Owen," Wright said.
"I just feel like crying right now. The last couple of months have been so crazy and to come here and do this, it's phenomenal.
"It brought so much clarity to me ... made me realise I want to win a world title."
The World Surf League tour now heads to Bells Beach in Victoria for the Rip Curl Pro starting on March 24.
