Back at the scene of his stunning 2015 triumph, surfing comeback star Owen Wright has taken the quick route into the third round of the Fiji Pro.
Two years ago, Australian Wright became the first man to record a perfect 20 score twice at the same event, signing off with his second 20 to lift the title in a final against countryman Julian Wilson.
It's well documented that he missed that title defence - and all the rest of last season - after a serious head injury suffered in the 2015 finale at Pipeline in Hawaii.
But his impressive return continues, as he sits equal second on the standings behind only Hawaii's John John Florence after four events, having won the season opener on the Gold Coast.
Surfing in heavy 2-2.5 metre waves at Fiji's famed Cloudbreak, Wright didn't have it all his own way but still won his first-round heat against rookies Leonardo Fioravanti of Italy and Ezekiel Lau (Hawaii) to progress direct to round three.
Wright was unsuccessful with several attempts to blast out of a barrel before finally nailing one on his last attempt to score an 8.50 and take the win.
"That was nice to win the first heat back at Fiji," said Wright.
"It has been my theme this year to build and find the right spot. I finally found the right place on that last one and made it out. "
The final round one heat provided a marquee match-up between 11-time world champion Kelly Slater and Australia's three-time world champion Mick Fanning alongside Aussie veteran Bede Durbidge.
Fanning gained control with a series of barrels for an 8.00 and 5.93 and went on to win. Slater, a four-time winner in Fiji, was unable to complete any of the tubes he got into and will have to contest a sudden-death second-round heat.
"This is the fourth time Kelly and I have met this year," said Fanning.
"We don't know how long we are going to be on tour for so it is great to get as many heats as we can with each other.
"We were pretty relaxed at the start but it got pretty intense at the end."
Championship leader Florence went straight through to round three, beating local wildcard Tevita Gukilau and Australian veteran Josh Kerr.
Tahiti's Michel Bourez produced the performance of the opening day with two near-perfect nine-point rides for an 18.70 heat total to win from Brazil's Miguel Pupo and Australian Adrian Buchan.
Among others to go direct to round three were South Africa's Jordy Smith, who is tied second with Wright in the standings, plus Australians Wilson, Matt Wilkinson and rookie Connor O'Leary.
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