Brazilian surfer Italo Ferreira has pulled off a dazzling 540-degree mid-air spin to record a rare perfect 10 at the Quiksilver Pro on the Gold Coast.
The world No.16 got huge air to land the difficult move in 1-1.5m surf at the elite World Surf League event at Snapper Rocks on Friday.
Ferreira easily won his second-round heat against Italy's Leonardo Fioravanti.
"Occasionally, we see moments of just amazing brilliance," head judge Rich Porta said.
"You break that air manoeuvre down and he's got all the parts of the criteria for variety and innovation.
"That will be a highlight at the end of the year, I guarantee it.
"It's a scale-setter for the rest of the field to go, 'the possibility of getting really high scores are there, you just have to go massive', which is what we saw."
Eleven-time world champion Kelly Slater avoided knockout after losing his opening heat to Australian great Mick Fanning a day earlier, beating fellow American Nat Young in the second round to progress.
Mikey Wright joined brother Owen in the third round, completing a clean sweep for the Australian siblings with world champion Tyler Wright also into the third round of the women's competition.
Tyler Wright faces a tough battle against Australian Nikki Van Dijk and Lakey Peterson of the US for a spot in the fourth round.
Connor O'Leary's triumph over American Kanoa Igarashi sees him one of eight Australians into the third round, along with defending champion Matt Wilkinson, Joel Parkinson, Owen and Mikey Wright, Fanning, Julian Wilson and Stuart Kennedy.
But local hopes Jack Freestone, Josh Kerr, Adrian Buchan and Bede Durbidge were knocked out on Friday.
Kennedy eliminated young compatriot Ethan Ewing, last year's world junior champion in the second round.
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