Australian surfing star Joel Parkinson tamed some monster waves and emphatically returned to form at WA's Margaret River Pro.
The 2012 world champion had the highest heat score on day one of the men's event as several rivals suffered wipeouts.
Parkinson had the highest heat score of 15.73 after the competition was moved from The Box to the main break at Margaret River.
The Box took its toll in the first seven of the 12 round-one heats, with Australian Josh Kerr and Hawaiian John John Florence among those to wipe out in the big conditions.
American Kelly Slater fell twice on the way to his heat win and then loaned a board to compatriot CJ Hobgood.
The board was promptly smashed in two just minutes into the heat.
Once conditions deteriorated, organisers moved to the main break and Parkinson shone.
He convincingly beat compatriot Adam Melling and American Kolohe Andino after finishing 13th and ninth in the opening two rounds of this year's World Surf League.
"It was more a frame of mind - I've been having a pretty bad run (with) waves," he said.
"Every heat I've had, it just seemed like I was out of rhythm.
"I paddled out there and I was just excited to see some size and some swell.
"I know it's not ideal conditions, but ... I was happy to be in the ocean when it was moving and not sitting and waiting.
"When I'm happy and relaxed, I seem to do my best surfing and I just found rhythm quite easily."
Earlier, Kerr and fellow Australian Adrian Buchan personified the contrasting fortunes for competitors at The Box.
While Buchan had the performance of the day, a 9.53 wave score, on the way to his heat win, Kerr wiped out twice.
"The worst wipeout for me was actually the first one, rather than the one I `scorpioned' on," Kerr said.
"I fell and I was held down for a while so I was pretty out of breath for the rest of the heat.
"I tried to get nice and deep but I didn't handle the second section, went down and landed straight on the reef."
Defending champion Michel Bourez had his first heat win of the season after second-round eliminations at Snapper Rocks and Bells Beach.
Australian Mick Fanning, who won Bells, continued his strong form with a round-one win.
Compatriot Taj Burrow, Brazil's reigning world champion Gabriel Medina and his young compatriot Filipe Toledo were among those surfers forced into the elimination second round.
The forecast is for more big surf on Thursday.
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