Local favourite and defending event champion Jordy Smith dominated first-day action at the South African stop on the surfing world championship tour on Thursday.
Smith scored an amazing two-wave total of 19.80 points of a possible 20 to win his heat at Jeffreys Bay as the event returned to elite level.
Australia's current world champion and past event winner Mick Fanning also won his heat to progress directly to the third round, as did 11-time world champion American Kelly Slater.
"Winning a heat here is a very special thing," said Fanning.
"Growing up, it's one of those waves that you always want to come and surf.
"I had a bit of a slow start but then I found my rhythm and got two good waves. Jordy (Smith) has a stranglehold on this event for the last couple of years, so he's the guy to beat."
Other Australian winners in the first round were Taj Burrow, Kai Otton, Josh Kerr and Adam Melling who accounted for Brazil's world championship leader Gabriel Medina 13.10 points to 11.50.
Medina then won his second heat against local wildcard Dylan Lightfoot to stay alive in the sixth event of the year.
Four second-round heats were completed at the end of a day of two-metre waves with Aussies Joel Parkinson and Julian Wilson among the winners.
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