World champion Stephanie Gilmore has felt the full force of the next generation after being knocked out of her local World Surf League event by Caroline Marks.
Gold Coaster Gilmore had tipped the 17-year-old Marks to shine this year and she did just that with a masterclass in the pair's quarter-final on Saturday.
Florida's Marks (16.80 points) shocked the big crowd on Duranbah Beach with 8.33 and 8.47 waves to leave the seven-time world champion scratching for answers on her own wave.
Gilmore (8.77) managed a 7.17 but could only couple it with a 1.60 as she scoured the horizon for something to help her contend with the teenager.
"Just mistake after mistake basically," Gilmore lamented.
"Being my home break - I surf this beach every day when I'm home - you'd think I would've been able to figure it out a bit more."
It is a missed opportunity for Gilmore with fellow contenders Lakey Peterson and Courtney Conlogue also eliminated but a massive boost for Marks' title hopes.
But the teenager was not thinking that far ahead.
"Steph's my idol, been my idol since I started surfing and still is," she said.
"I'm still star struck by her, so to be like competing against her an beating her is insane.
"I'm super humbled. It definitely gives me tonnes of confidence."
Sally Fitzgibbons (14.27) remains in Marks' way, though, controlling a high-class quarter-final against American Sage Erickson (12.50) to book another semi-final berth in pursuit of a maiden Gold Coast title.
She will meet Carissa Moore in the final four while Marks faces Malia Manuel, with the semi-finals on stand-by and likely to be held on Sunday.
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