Surfing greats like Kelly Slater, Mick Fanning and Steph Gilmore could lose to rising stars

THEY share 20 world titles but three of the biggest names in surfing could be sent home early after a dramatic opening day of the Quiksilver and Roxy Pro.

THEY share 20 world titles between them but three of the biggest names in surfing could be sent home early after a dramatic opening day of the Quiksilver and Roxy Pro events.

Eleven-time world champion Kelly Slater, world No. 2 Mick Fanning, and women’s world champion Stephanie Gilmore each face sudden-death one-on-one heats in Round 2 after failing to win their opening heats on Saturday.

Fanning, 33, may have finished the heat left wondering what more he could have done after posting a near-perfect wave of 9.73 points — the highest scoring wave of the day.

The Coolangatta local’s total score of 17.06 points would have earned him victory in nine of the 11 other heats but it was not to be as he came up against exciting rookie Matt Banting.

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Kelly Slater in Round 1 of the Quiksilver Pro at Snapper Rocks.

Mick Fanning ripping among feet and cameras at Snapper Rocks. Pics Tim Marsden

In his first heat on the World Surf League tour, Banting showed why he was the highest ranked rookie with two impressive waves to finish with a heat total of 17.76.

The 20-year-old labelled his win over Fanning and Tweed Heads wildcard Jack Freestone as one of the best of his career.

“Winning that heat and beating the likes of Mick (Fanning) felt like I had won the competition,” Banting said.

“My throat is sore because as soon as I heard I had won I put my head underwater and screamed my loudest. It was amazing.”

Fanning will now face sponsor wildcard Dane Reynolds in their Round 2 clash.

After losing his heat to ­Hawaiian surfer Freddy Patacchia, Slater said he would ­regroup and focus on his second round where he takes on Freestone.

“(The loss) just focuses me I think,” Slater said.

“I didn’t really go out there with a game plan.

“Had I known what I know now I would have really pushed hard to get the first wave of the sets.”

Matt Banting was excited to do well on Saturday. Pic by Luke Marsden.

Meanwhile, Gilmore struggled to stay on her board during her Round 1 heat against Brazil’s Silvana Lima and wildcard Bronte Macaulay.

The six-time world champion made a number of uncharacteristic falls in the testing one metre conditions.

Lima, who is making her ­return to the women’s championship tour after a year’s absence, scored 18.16.

Gold Coasters Joel Parkinson and Bede Durbidge both won their respective heats and progressed to Round 3.

Steph Gilmore meets fans after the expression session from the Roxy and Quiksilver Pro at Snapper Rocks. Pics Adam Head

Durbidge, who won his heat comfortably over West Australia’s Taj Burrow and Hawaiian Keanu Asing, said punters should not write off Fanning.

“Mick was definitely one of the standouts of the day,” Durbidge said. “I don’t think losing his heat will faze him.

“He will come back bigger and stronger in the next heat.”

Event organisers have called another lay-day for both the Quiksilver and Roxy Pros today as they await a potential swell to arrive at the end of this week.