Four Australians are through to the third round of the Rio Pro with joint world surf league tour leader Julian Wilson among them.
Wilson, injury replacement Mickey Wright and rookie Wade Carmichael won their first-round heats as the men's event got underway at Barrinha, the back-up location, in four-to-six foot waves.
Adrian Buchan did it the hard way, avoiding elimination in the second round with a 12.63 score accounting for Michael February.
A score of 12.93 from his best two waves gave Wilson victory over local hope Deivid Silva and American Patrick Gudauskas.
"We've been waiting a few days, so that energy also builds up," Wilson said.
"I think WSL made a great decision to come up to this end of the beach.
"There are a lot of quality waves here and it is exciting."
Wright's 14.83 was the highest score in round one and too good for world champion John John Florence and Frenchman Joan Duru.
"This definitely makes me want to be on the tour more," Wright said.
"This makes me want to keep doing and getting results on the QS, and getting these spots as a replacement. I am trying to make the most out of these opportunities."
Carmichael overcame compatriot Owen Wright, who was later knocked out of the event after a second-round heat loss, and Brazil's Wiggolly Dantas with a score of 12.60.
Brazil's Italo Ferreira, who leads the standings along with Wilson after three rounds, is among those to progress straight to round three along with countrymen Gabriel Medina and Felipe Toledo.
Florence was among the six surfers to win in the second round on Monday while six more heats yet to be decided, including those involving Australian duo Matt Wilkinson and Connor O'Leary.
In a major upset, defending event winner and 2015 world champion Adriano de Souza was eliminated by fellow Brazilian Ian Gouveia.
