Australians Tyler Wright and Ethan Ewing have finished runners-up in the World Surf League's Rio Pro event in Brazil, boosting their world title quests.
World No.2 Wright became the second woman to clinch a spot in the season finale Final 5 despite losing the Rio final to 17-year-old American rookie sensation Caitlin Simmers.
Simmers claimed her second tour victory after putting two-time world champion Wright on notice early with an excellent 8.33 score for a lip-line floater on her way to a 14.66 to 9.80 victory.
The American had earlier downed world No.1 Carissa Moore in the semis.
Wright, who defeated American Caroline Marks in the semis, was delighted to be vying for a third world crown.
"It's been a long time since I've been in world title contention so the main thing for me is to stay in my process," said Wright.
"I have ideas and thoughts about what I want to do. I think that's where the joy is going to come back into it for me.
"I haven't finished a year in five years so that would be pretty cool. I'm just going to keep putting one foot in front of the other."
Ewing beat fellow Australian Ryan Callinan in the men's semi-finals but then came up against red-hot hometown hero Yago Dora, who had the crowd cheering the entire contest.
Dora held a slim lead heading into the halfway mark before throwing caution to the wind and launching himself into a full-rotation air to earn a perfect 10-point ride to seal his 14.83 to 10.83 win.
Ewing still moved from fourth to third in the world rankings after his second final appearance this year.
He made it all the way to the Rip Curl WSL Finals last year and is close to doing so again with only two events left to go.
"It was pretty amazing here," said Ewing. "This crowd here is unlike any other event we get to surf in, it's been an amazing week. I have my dad here with me.
"I want to say a huge thank you to the fans for being so nice to me this week, thank you."
