The surfing fans dressed in green and gold lining the Gold Coast's Snapper Rocks were given plenty to cheer about on Saturday.
Unfortunately for the local threats, they were the Brazilian supporters sent into raptures by reigning men's world champion Gabriel Medina on a day of upsets.
Australia's Mick Fanning and women's six-time world champion Stephanie Gilmore were among the high-profile, opening-heat losers.
Defending Quiksilver Pro men's champion Medina stole crowd favouritism when he left his best to last, sealing 9.50 points on his final wave to claim a first heat win.
It sparked delirium among the passionate green and gold clad Brazilian fans who began chanting Medina's name as he emerged from the surf.
Not so lucky were Fanning and 11-time world champion Kelly Slater in one metre conditions.
Triple world champ Fanning could not reel in rookie compatriot Matt Banting's total of 17.76 points despite notching the highest single wave score of the day (9.73pts).
He will next contest round two's elimination heat with Californian wildcard Dane Reynolds.
Hawaiian veteran Freddy Patacchia Jnr (17.06pts) won the first heat featuring a struggling Slater.
Slater will come up against local wildcard and dual world junior champ Jack Freestone in the knockout second heat.
Aussie hopes Joel Parkinson and Bede Durbidge both won their respective heats to progress to round three.
In the women's Roxy Pro, Gilmore began her world title defence with a stumble, losing her opening heat to Brazilian surfer Silvana Lima (18.16 points to 14).
But Australia's world No.4 Sally Fitzgibbons progressed to round three.
She posted a score of 9.23 on a last gasp wave to win her heat that also featured fellow Aussie Nikki Van Dijk.
"I tried to go into that first round nice and relaxed and feeling confident in my approach," Fitzgibbons said.
"This year is a new chapter for me."
Organisers are expected to put round two and three action on hold on Sunday as they wait for a new swell.
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