Kelly Slater has sent a shudder through the men's World Surf League, posting an excellent score in his comeback heat.
The 11-time world champion easily beat Hawaiian Eli Hanneman as the Tahiti Pro started at the imposing Teahupo'o break in six-to-eight-feet conditions.
Only six heats were possible on Saturday (Sunday AEST) before competition was called off for the day, but it was enough for Slater to make his presence felt.
Teahupo'o is one of his favourite breaks and he is a five-time winner there.
The 54-year-old wildcard entry, who had hip surgery late last year, showed he remains a significant threat on the tour by posting a heat total of 16.23, the best of the day.
That featured a nine-point wave score.
He has set up a second-round heat against Brazilian great Gabriel Medina, the three-time world champion and a two-time event winner at Tahiti.
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"It's sort of like riding a bike, but you forget how gnarly Teahupo'o is," Slater said.
"You've got to just jump back on the horse out here.
"I won't say I started out slow, but I definitely built. Each wave was kind of bigger and better until I maxed out on that nine.
"When you're not in the environment of competition all the time, it's not easy to stay in that mindset. I felt like I kind of locked back in during that heat."
Oscar Berry was the only Australian in action on day one and he lost to Morocco's Ramzi Boukhiam.
