Florence shuts door on crown pretenders

JULIAN Wilson’s passage to an unlikely surfing world title remains shut after John John Florence’s impressive start to the series finale in Hawaii.

The defending world champion won his first-round heat to progress directly to the third round of the Pipe Masters before the day was called with three heats remaining when the swell dropped.

Fourth-placed Wilson (pictured) must win the seasonending event but also rely on Florence stumbling in the next round, to be any chance of claiming an unlikely maiden world crown.

Florence (13.5) easily progressed past Dusty Payne (6.83) and Wiggolly Dantas (5.63) to win his heat, while the Sunshine Coast’s Wilson (8.00) settled for second behind Conner Coffin (10.56) after being penalised for interference. He will surf in the elimination second round against local Benji Brand if conditions permit today, needing to progress to keep his faint world title hopes alive.

Fellow world title contender Jordy Smith won his heat comfortably, while Brazilian hope Gabriel Medina was relegated to third despite a score of 12.43 in a high-scoring heat.

Like Wilson, Smith is relying on the failings of others to snatch the world title.

“I don’t really get too deep into the pressure and quite frankly it really boils down to those two guys (Florence and Medina) losing out early, but you never know,” he said.

Eleven-time WSL champion and seven-time Pipe Masters winner Kelly Slater made a successful return to competition for the first time since injuring his foot in July.

The American (12.47) won his heat from Joan Duru (11.90) and Kolohe Andino (7.60).

“I’ve missed competition but after so many years of nonstop day in, day out … it’s been kind of nice to have a few months off,” Slater said.