Owen Wright has made a successful return to competition surfing, more than 14 months after the Australian suffered a head injury while training in Hawaii.
Wright progressed to the third round of the World Surf League's qualifying series event in Newcastle on Tuesday, winning his comeback heat with two waves scores over seven points each.
The 27-year-old is using the event as a dress rehearsal before he determines whether to activate an injury wildcard and return to the global tour this year.
"That felt amazing," Wright said.
"There was nothing I wanted to do more then go out there and smash a few waves and I got to do it and I was so stoked."
Wright was consistent in the four-man heat, finishing with a combined wave score of 15.33 out of 20 ahead of nearest rival Luel Felipe (14.34) of Brazil.
It was Wright's first competitive heat since he was injured while warming-up for the 2015 season-ending Pipeline Masters, falling on a wave and smashing his head.
He was taken to hospital after struggling to speak and "feeling weird".
Wright sat out the entire 2016 season while his sister, Tyler, won the women's title.
He received clearance from the league to return to competitive surfing last week, after undergoing a number of tests.
"It was no doubt the hardest year of my life and the biggest rollercoaster," he said.
"I'm on the other side of it now and I feel better and stronger and more excited to have this rash shirt on again to compete."
Wright also thanked the surfing community the support he had received during his time on the sidelines.
"It's been incredible," he said.
"Just people writing in and all the fans. To realise how much love there is out there in this sport and how much was sent my way to push me through was incredible."
Meanwhile in a blow for local hopes, top-ranked Australian and defending champion Matt Wilkinson was knocked out of the Newcastle competition ahead of the first stop of the championship tour, the Gold Coast Pro in March.
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