HOSSEGOR: World title contenders Kelly Slater and Mick Fanning suffered rare first-round losses on the opening day of the ninth event in world championship tour in France.
But ratings leader Gabriel Medina, No.3 Joel Parkinson and No.5 Michel Bourez won their heats on Friday to progress directly to the third round.
Down to earth: Kelly Slater.Credit: AP
Brazil's Medina just made it past American Dane Reynolds 15.17 points to 14.56 while world No.2 Slater was pipped by Aussie Matt Wilkinson 14.67 to 14.50.
Julian Wilson had the round's highest two-wave score of 16.77 while other Australians to win opening heats were Taj Burrow, Adrian Buchan and Josh Kerr.
"Feels great to get a heat win like that," said Wilson, whose aerials accounted for Hawaiian rising star John John Florence and Brazil's Jadson Andre .
"I feel like I've been surfing well all year, but have had trouble translating that into results. To get win with surfing like that is good for the confidence. I feel like I'm due for a result this season."
As with the women's opening heats on Thursday, conditions fluctuated during the day as the tide caused a shift in the take off areas, and some competitors were slow to adjust in the one to 1.5m waves.
Eleven-time world champion Slater has drawn Reynolds in the second round while double champion Fanning is against fellow Aussie Matt Banting.
AAP