Stephanie Gilmore has obliterated any doubt over her World Surf League credentials with a stunning heat display on the Gold Coast.
The six-time world champion put in the performance of the day in the Roxy Pro at Snapper Rocks on Saturday with a second-round clinic against American Coco Ho.
Gilmore, fired up after an underwhelming opening round performance, scored a near-perfect 19.77 out of 20 to blast into the third round.
While the 28-year-old then lost a non-elimination quarter-final qualifier to Tyler Wright, her display against Ho will have put her title rivals on notice after an injury-marred 2015 campaign.
"I was pretty hungry after that round one loss but it feels really good," Gilmore said.
"I really wanted to put in a really good performance in this event in particular because I had so much time off last year.
"I didn't want to have those feelings like I was behind the group. It was really important. I put that pressure on myself to make sure I could step up and get some really high scores."
Gilmore's display even allowed her to start openly contemplating a serious tilt at a record-equalling seventh world championship.
"It's possible," Gilmore said.
"It's a long way away and it'll be a really difficult year for everyone to push each other and get good results. I'll do my best."
Gilmore will face off with compatriot Nikki Van Dijk for a quarter-final berth after the first three rounds of the women's section were completed on Saturday.
The winner of that fourth-round clash will meet former event winner Wright for a semi-final spot.
Elsewhere, injury replacement wildcard Bronte Macaulay provided the shock of the day as she eliminated Sally Fitzgibbons for the first time in the second round in her eight years on tour.
The West Australian will next meet American Malia Manuel in a quarter-final qualifier, where defending world and event champion Carissa Moore awaits in the last eight.
Organisers are expected to convene on Sunday morning with a call on whether to resume competition at 7.30am AEST.
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