Defending surfing world champion Tyler Wright has celebrated her 23rd birthday in grand style, cruising into the quarter-finals of the WSL Margaret River Pro.
Wright posted a two-wave total of 17.94 in four-foot conditions to edge out Malia Manuel (17.00) and Sage Erickson (11.94) in their round-three heat on Friday.
Joining her in the quarterfinals is six-time world champion Stephanie Gilmore, who produced a 9.10 scoring wave in the dying seconds of her heat to come up trumps.
But the news wasn't so good for fellow Australian Sally Fitzgibbons, who has been relegated to the elimination fourth round after losing her round-three heat to Hawaiian Carissa Moore.
Wright will take on Tatiana Weston-Webb in the fourth round.
Moore, Wright and Gilmore will be joined in the quarterfinals by American Courtney Conlogue.
The winners of the round-four heats will also progress to the quarterfinals.
The first major casualty of the women's draw was Lakey Peterson.
The American finished runner-up at Snapper Rocks two weeks ago but was eliminated by Coco Ho in the second round of the Margaret River Pro.
Gracetown sisters Bronte and Laura Macaulay were other casualties in round two.
A refreshed Fitzgibbons finished third in the tour-opening event at Snapper Rocks and says she rediscovered her love of surfing during the off-season.
The 26-year-old has been runner-up in the title race on three occasions and has also recorded three other top-five finishes.
But Fitzgibbons slipped to eighth in the rankings last year - a situation she has since addressed.
"I think last year my rhythm was out. It was no shortage of trying or training any less," Fitzgibbons said.
"When you do try to force it and you want it so bad, sometimes you can start to go that other way.
"Over the off-season, I really connected to my surfing again and my love of riding waves and having that joy.
"I just went home for a few weeks and surfed with my loved ones - having a break from that competitive bubble.
"I feel like I've really connected with that consistency again and the confidence in my surfing."
Gilmore didn't panic despite needing at least an 8.20 score on her final wave of the round-three heat.
"I knew that getting the score was achievable if the right wave came," Gilmore said.
"So I had to be patient with priority. Once I got the wave, I stayed really focused on finishing it and not falling on the last turn."
The men's competition was called off for Friday.
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