Flat conditions at Bells Beach have delayed the start of the Rip Curl Pro as world surfing organisers hold out for three-metre waves to reach the Victorian coast.
World Surf League (WSL) Commissioner Kieren Perrow says a promising forecast for moderately sized waves is due to fill in from Thursday.
"Unfortunately, the swell we've had for the last few days has dropped off and it is flat here at Bells Beach," Perrow said.
Forecaster Surfline expects the swell will hold through until Sunday and produce wave sets about two to three metres.
Three-time WSL champion Mick Fanning, who will depart the world tour for good after Bells, will face Hawaii's Sebastian Zietz and Brazil's Jesse Mendes in the men's opening round.
Tour leader Julian Wilson will battle Victorian trials winner Carl Wright and France's Joan Duru.
World junior champion Macy Callaghan, who was called in to replace defending champion Courtney Conlogue, faces women's tour leader Lakey Peterson.
Men's round 1:
Heat 1: Filipe Toledo (BRA), Griffin Colapinto (USA), Michael February (ZAF)
Heat 2: Owen Wright (AUS), Conner Coffin (USA), Ezekiel Lau (HAW)
Heat 3: Jordy Smith (ZAF), Caio Ibelli (BRA), Patrick Gudauskas (USA)
Heat 4: Gabriel Medina (BRA), Italo Ferreira (BRA), Ian Gouveia (BRA)
Heat 5: John John Florence (HAW), Tomas Hermes (BRA), Mikey McDonagh (AUS)
Heat 6: Julian Wilson (AUS), Joan Duru (FRA), Carl Wright (AUS)
Heat 7: Adriano de Souza (BRA), Michel Bourez (PYF), Keanu Asing (HAW)
Heat 8: Matt Wilkinson (AUS), Jeremy Flores (FRA), Yago Dora (BRA)
Heat 9: Kolohe Andino (USA), Frederico Morais (PRT), Willian Cardoso (BRA)
Heat 10: Adrian Buchan (AUS), Connor O'Leary (AUS), Michael Rodrigues (BRA)
Heat 11: Joel Parkinson (AUS), Kanoa Igarashi (JPN), Wade Carmichael (AUS)
Heat 12: Mick Fanning (AUS), Sebastian Zietz (HAW), Jesse Mendes (BRA)
Women's round 1:
Heat 1: Carissa Moore (HAW), Sage Erickson (USA), Bronte Macaulay (AUS)
Heat 2: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), Keely Andrew (AUS), Coco Ho (HAW)
Heat 3: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS), Silvana Lima (BRA), Kobie Enright (AUS)
Heat 4: Tyler Wright (AUS), Malia Manuel (HAW), Paige Hareb (NZL)
Heat 5: Lakey Peterson (USA), Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA), Macy Callaghan (AUS)
Heat 6: Nikki Van Dijk (AUS), Johanne Defay (FRA), Caroline Marks (USA)
Share
