Round three of the Rip Curl Pro saw the competition moved to Winkipop in order to catch better waves, and it was the big guns that impressed the most.
Eight-time ASP World Champion Kelly Slater impressed in his heat, scoring 18.40 out of 20 to beat Brazilian Jihad Khodr.
Slater said: "I'd say that nine days out of ten, the waves are better over at Winki. It's just more surfable on the face and it stays steeper. It's getting to be the full tide over at Bells and it's pretty small. If it was six feet, it'd be one thing as the conditions are nice, but it's pretty mushy."
He added that it was possible for him to "play around a little bit" after opening up a lead against his opponent.
Mick Fanning also made it through to round four along with Taj Burrow, Bede Durbidge and Andy Irons.
Slater currently leads the ASP World Tour after one event, the Quiksilver Pro, in which he beat Fanning in the final.
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