It's been a long haul back to the World Surf League for Callum Robson, but the 25-year-old from Evans Head in NSW has achieved his best result in three years with the potential to go further after reaching the last eight in El Salvador.
Having stunned Ethan Ewing in the second round, Robson defeated another Australian in the third - close friend Liam O'Brien in controversial circumstances.
Robson had already scored an impressive 12.50 (6.00, 6.50) from two waves at Puta Roca when he set off on another only find O'Brien, who thought he had priority, dropping in on him.
After some deliberation the judges decided Robson had priority and O'Brien lost the wave and his second score. With a maximum 10 available that meant Robson, barring further interference, was through with more than 13 minutes of the heat to run.
O'Brien later clocked up a 5.13 meaning his second wave, scoring 4.67, was wiped off.
In the quarter-finals, Robson will meet Japan's Kanoa Igarashi who defeated American Eli Hanneman in the second heat on Monday (Tuesday AEST).
View this post on Instagram
Robson (who was wearing blue, with O'Brien in red) subsequently explained the confusion. In essence, when he launched himself on the wave he had priority, and while that switched he was still riding the same wave when O'Brien joined it.
"I was just looking at the board, a pretty big bomb came, I was in position for it. Right before it came up I saw blue came up. I double-checked, that's when I pulled the trigger and went.
"After I took off (priority) had switched to red. After I stood up. I looked and saw red and thought I had the shocker. We were both very confused out there, not knowing what was going to happen. Obviously they called it I had priority.
"It's an unfortunate situation, especially when you are competing against your mate. You just want to go out and go head to head, rather than have a little ruling issue.
"I'm spewing to have that happen to LOB (O'Brien), he's such a great mate, a good guy, one of my best mates on tour. But I'm pretty stoked I'm in the quarters, my biggest result this year."
View this post on Instagram
It is actually Robson's best since Bells Beach in 2023, and the draw has opened up on his half with reigning world champion Yago Dora beaten by the 2025 rookie of the year Marco Mignot in the only other heat possible before winds became too difficult.
When competition resumes in this fifth leg of the tour, Australia's Jack Robinson hopes to join Robson in the last eight. He goes against Gabriel Medina, the Brazilian who is currently third in the season's standings.
In the women's quarter-finals reigning champion Molly Picklum faces Caroline Marks, while Tyler Wright is also up against an American in Caitlin Simmers. The winners meet in the semis.
