Kelly Slater was forced to scramble to avoid a first-round elimination at the Gold Coast Pro while Julian Wilson impressed in his return and Steph Gilmore was narrowly denied a perfect 10.
Eleven-time world champion Slater's casual appearance at the second-tier Challenger Series event ensured the beach was packed on Sunday at the Snapper Rocks point break that is no longer part of the World Surf League's top tour.
The American started with an eight-point ride at his "second home" but, without a second scoring wave until the final minutes, was made to sweat before a 4.93-point effort saw him move from fourth to second and jag a spot in the round-of-48.
"Literally two waves ... one good, one pretty average wave. I got to work on that first one so I didn't dig a hole for myself but it got a bit desperate there," he said.
Earlier Wilson, who stepped away from the tour after last year's Olympics, returned with a two-wave total of 13.63 to win in another competitive heat.
"Very nice ... it was fingers crossed it'd be like this," Wilson, who also appeared at a Newcastle event in March, said of the conditions.
"Stoked to win my first heat in a while. I'll really enjoy this event, enjoy going to Manly too and take the year as it comes and enjoy the benefits of the decision (to step off the top tour) I made."
Tyler Wright (16.43) and Molly Picklum (16.77) both dominated their heats later in the day, but were upstaged in the final fixture by local favourite Gilmore.
The seven-time world champion latched onto two long barrels to pair nine and 9.77-point rides, Gilmore just missing an audacious aerial exit on her second wave that would have delivered a perfect 10.
The new Challenger Series event has extra significance after last week's mid-season cut, with stars such as Owen Wright, Sally Fitzgibbons and Morgan Cibilic and Connor O'Leary forced to win their spots back after falling below the line.
Wright, Cibilic and O'Leary all made solid starts to their efforts of requalifying, winning their first-round heats on Saturday, while Fitzgibbons' 12.56 total on Sunday was enough for second in her heat to also progress.
