Champion surfer Kelly Slater has dipped out of the Sydney Surf Pro after languishing last his second heat at Manly.
The 47-year-old struggled in the dribbly swell on Thursday and recorded a two-wave score of 6.53 to finish fourth behind Brazilians Jesse Mendes (14.67), Alex Ribeiro (14.07) and Frenchman Charly Quivront (11.40).
His exit follows the 11-time world champion's triumphant return to competition in 2019 on Wednesday, where he marked his return from a long-term foot injury by winning his his opening heat.
Ribeiro used the new priority rules to snatch a key wave ahead of Slater in the last five minutes to claim second and also advance.
