Bells Beach will crown a women’s champion for the first time after a morning of carnage for the favourites.
Two-time defending champion Tyler Wright, two-time winner Sally Fitzgibbons and world number one Molly Picklum were eliminated in the round of 16 on Wednesday.
Wright fell to local wildcard Ellie Harrison, who has become a giant-killer in her championship debut.
A day after winning her heat and sending Picklum to the knockout round, Harrison shocked the sport again when the 18-year-old dispatched Wright in a tight heat.
Harrison, from nearby Barwon Heads, has been coming to Bells Beach since she was a baby and will be the only Australian female quarter-finalist at her home break.
In a thrilling end to their heat, Wright posted a score of 7.07 that briefly gave him the lead, but seconds later, Harrison posted a score of 6.40 that gave him the win, 13.73 to 12.79.
“As soon as I saw the playoffs, I was like ‘oh no.’ I admire Tyler a lot,” Harrison said.
“She’s the nicest person in the water, she compliments me, she’s a great girl.
“It’s like a dream come true… it feels a little weird, I don’t know how to act.”
The 18-year-old high school student is surfing in her first Championship Tour event after earning a wild card entry.
Fellow Australian Picklum, who was world number one entering Bells Beach, was also eliminated on Wednesday morning in another spill.
American Sawyer Lindblad defeated Picklum, who had struggled in her previous two heats.
This means that last year’s two women’s finalists failed to reach the quarterfinals.
Harrison is in the quarterfinals against French surfer Johanne Defay, who beat Fitzgibbons in the first round of the last 16 and replaced Picklum at the top of the world rankings.
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AAP