Stephanie Gilmore will have to find a new way if the surfing legend is to win an historic eighth world title this season.
Gilmore struggled in Friday's massive conditions at Bells Beach and lost to Hawaiian Malia Manuel in the Rip Curl Pro quarter-finals.
The reigning world champion also exited the opening tour event on the Gold Coast in the quarters.
Gilmore habitually has started a world title season with a big result in at least one of the Australian events.
The defending champion at Bells Beach holds the women's record of seven world titles along with compatriot Layne Beachley.
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"To start the year with two quarters is not world title-worthy, but it's a long year," said Gilmore, a four-time winner at Bells Beach.
"Starting the year like this is not the best, but anything's possible.
"This is just the beginning ... maybe I'm just going about it in a way, a new route.
"I've been on tour for so long, I'm just looking for a new way."
Manuel switched to a bigger board and claimed a 10.77 points to 8.70 triumph, her first heat win over Gilmore.
The Australian had looked good in the morning's warm-up, but struggled to find the right waves in their heat.
"My 50-year storm was like a five-minute storm - it was kind-of 'victory at sea'," Gilmore said of the historic conditions at Bells Beach.
"I just found myself copping all the big ones on the head and it was a pretty bad performance from both of us, really - it was just a wave-catching contest.
Manuel, 25, advanced to her semi-final against American 17-year-old phenomenon Caroline Marks, the tour leader.
"I survived the 50-year storm today," Manuel said.
"I've had these step-ups since Hawaii when I was in the off-season so I'm very fortunate I get to practice on bigger boards like this at home.
"I rode five inches up from my normal board so it still felt good because I had some time on it in the winter."
Marks downed Brisa Hennessy from Hawaii on Friday morning.
Marks is unbeaten so far this year, winning the tour opener on the Gold Coast.
Gilmore was the last Australian to be eliminated in the women's competition, with Americans Lakey Peterson and Courtney Conlogue joining Manuel and Marks in the semis.
The two titles will be decided on Saturday, the end of the event waiting period.
