Australian surfers dominated proceedings at the Hurley Pro in California on Saturday with three progressing directly into the quarter-finals at Lower Trestles.
Youngster Owen Wright, two-time world champion Mick Fanning and Queenslander Taj Burrow all mastered the clean two-metre waves to progress from round four directly into the last eight.
Wright continued his dream rookie year on the World Championship Tour, producing one of the greatest comebacks ASP history to beat nine-time world champ Kelly Slater and C.J. Hobgood in a high-quality heat.
"The start of the heat was really tough for me, I was out of rhythm and the other guys were catching all of the waves," Wright said.
"I was kind of stuck in a rut. Then that set came through and I got started. C.J. (Hobgood) paddled for one and just missed it and I paddled wide and a bomb set came to me."
"It was the best wave I've ever caught out there. It was just such a smooth wave, it actually felt like Bells."
Fanning was also in dynamic form in his heat, seeing off fellow Australian's Kieren Perrow and Chris Davidson.
"I’m into the Quarterfinals now, I have a result," Fanning said.
"The lowest you want is the Quarters and when you lose at this stage in the game it sort of plays with your head a little bit."
"You start wondering if you have to change anything, anyone one of those guys you come up against in Round 5, that’s an extremely hard round."
Burrow added: "I’d have to say that’s the most rippable surf I’ve ever been in for contest, free surf or anything."
"It’s as good as it gets for turns – it doesn’t get any better. I can’t believe our luck. Whoever wins this thing has really earned it because you have to go so mad to get a score."
Surfing will continue on Sunday if conditions permit.