Waves nudging five metres are forecast for the climax of the World Surf League's season opener in Hawaii, with Tyler Wright the lone Australian still in the victory hunt at Pipeline.
Wright did no more than necessary to sneak into the semi-finals, pairing a late 5.17-point wave with a 0.6 -- her only other scored ride -- to beat local hope Malia Manuel by less than a point.
Two-time world champion Wright won on the North Shore of Oahu last year when the Maui Pro was moved to the famous break -- historically reserved for the men's Championship Tour -- midway through the event.