Mick Fanning has missed out on a chance for some valuable competition in the Hawaiian swell just a week before his battle with Kelly Slater for this year's world surfing title.
The 32-year-old Australian was on Saturday eliminated in the round of 64 from the Vans World Cup of Surfing, the second leg of the Hawaiian Triple Crown held on the famed North Shore of Oahu.
In heat eight, Fanning was outpointed by locals Gavin Gilette and Kalani Chapman, who both advanced to the next round.
The contest is a second-tier event with no points counted towards the elite men's championship, but it was a wasted opportunity for Fanning to gather momentum towards the tour's finale.
The third leg of the Triple Crown - the Pipe Masters - is also the last elite event of the season and will be staged just a kilometre down the road.
And that's where Fanning has the chance to win his third world crown.
Slater lurks as the spoiler, with the 11-times champion 7,200 points behind Fanning as the closest contender.
The 41-year-old was in ominous form on Saturday, easily winning heat nine over fellow American Dane Reynolds, Brazilian Heitor Alves and Frenchman Joan Duru.
Tahiti's Michel Bourez won the first leg of the Triple Crown, the Hawaiian Pro, at Alii Beach Park in Haleiwa.
The Pipe Masters starts on December 8.
