Kelly Slater has joined Jack Robinson on the scrap heap on a brutal opening day at the El Salvador Pro, giving the Australian world title hope some perspective in the process.
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Fifth-ranked Robinson, legend Slater, eighth-ranked Ryan Callinan and John John Florence were among the casualties in Central America on Saturday as the mid-season cut ensured elimination surfing on the first day of action.
Wildcard Slater was ousted by Gabriel Medina in a blockbuster heat at Punta Roca and Florence was upset by Rio Waida on a day filled with excellent scores and fine margins that went against two of Australia's best title hopes.
Robinson started the year in the hottest of form with finishes of first, third and second from the opening three events.
Two 17th-placed results either side of missing his Margaret River Pro title defence with a knee injury have put his finals hopes at risk, but he looked on song when he scored six and seven-point waves in his opening round.
Fellow Australian Connor O'Leary wasn't reading from that script though, finding an 8.33-point wave on his first attempt on his way to a 13.40-point total that relegated Robinson.
He was then in a dog fight with Hawaii's Ian Gentile, scores locked entering the final minute of their eliminator but Gentile holding the keys as the man with the higher-scoring wave.
Both surfers found waves in the final seconds to better their scores, but Gentile's four-manoeuvre ride saw him progress 14.20 to 12.66.
Four events remain before the top-five battle for the big prize at California's Lower Trestles in September.
"I saw Kelly run out and thought, 'Man, he's been doing this for so long and had so many wins, but a lot more losses'," Robinson said.
"It's just one part of it. I'm happy I'm leaving this contest healthy because I wasn't back, but now I am.
"I'll stay focused and I'll be patient, it'll come."
Callinan (14.24) could relate to Robinson after scoring a pair of seven-plus point rides in his heat only to be bested by Kanoa Igarashi and forced into the elimination heat and knocked out by countryman Liam O'Brien.
Stradbroke Island's World No.4 Ethan Ewing (15.37) won his opening round to relegate Slater, who couldn't catch Brazilian star Medina despite the 51-year-old "throwing the whole kitchen sink" into the duel.
"I'm trying to find it, I haven't been in a good headspace for a while, not loving competition," Slater said.
"These are the heats I want to surf before my career's done ... for me, that was a pleasure."
Callum Robson regrouped from a heat loss by watching "some highlights of the footy" to win his elimination heat against South Africa's Matthew McGillivray.
Earlier, Stephanie Gilmore (16.17) opened her women's title defence with an emphatic heat victory, pairing 8.17 and eight-point waves to beat Tyler Wright and Johanne Defay in a high-scoring session.
Molly Picklum (7.83) battled to score in her heat and will join Wright in the elimination rounds.
Australian Associated Press
