Australian surfer Joel Parkinson looks set to have surrendered his world number one ranking after he was dumped out in the second round of the Billabong Pro at Teahupoo in Tahiti.
It was a very poor day for Australia's big guns, with fifth-ranked Taj Burrow also eliminated from the competition.
Current number two Jordy Smith is now in the box seat to claim top spot following Parkinson's defeat, with the South African already into third-round action after his opening heat win.
Parkinson went for broke a couple of times on heavy waves but crucially faltered and, in the end, could only manage a 5.03 and a 5.30 for a combined score of 10.33.
Meanwhile, world number 25 Brett Simpson had a 7.67 and a 5.67 for a score of 13.34.
"I took one wave I probably shouldn't have and then I didn't make a really good one and that was it," Parkinson said.
"The wind makes it tough, it's been howling for a few days and there is a real slop on the ocean out there."
He added: "There are really good waves out there and I almost had one but it just cleaned me up at the end.
"It's that sort of place where sometimes you can be an inch away from perfection."
A swell of up to five metres has been forecast for Saturday, with organisers expected to put the competition on hold while big-wave surfers take over with a tow-in expression session.
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