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Surfing resumes at Pipe Pro in Hawaii as three Aussies make quarterfinals

Tyler Wright is through to the quarterfinals. (Getty Images: World Surf League/Tony Heff)

In short:

Aussie surfers Tyler Wright, Molly Picklum and Isabella Nichols are through to the quarterfinals of the Pipe Pro, but Sally Fitzgibbons is out.

Joe Vaughan, Ryan Callinan, and Liam O'Brien progressed through men's elimination to reach the round of 32, joining Jack Robinson and Ethan Ewing.

What's next?

In the quarterfinals, Wright will take on Caroline Marks (USA), Nichols takes on Lakey Peterson (USA) and Picklum meets Brisa Hennessy (CRI).

Two-time world surfing champion Tyler Wright will lead a strong Australian contingent in the quarterfinals after the Pipe Pro resumed for the first time this week.

On a good day for the Australians, Molly Picklum and Isabella Nichols will also feature on the women's finals days.

But Sally Fitzgibbons, in her return to the world tour, failed to make it past the elimination round.

Australians Joe Vaughan, Ryan Callinan, and Liam O'Brien progressed through men's elimination to reach the round of 32, joining Jack Robinson and Ethan Ewing.

The opening round of the world tour had been on hold for a week because of poor conditions at Hawaii's North Shore and the busy schedule on Thursday (AEDT) featured 16 heats.

The other two world champions in the women's draw, American pair Caroline Marks and Caitlin Simmers, also are into the quarters.

Wright progressed with a round of 16 heat win over Brazilian Luana Silva as the Pipeline break delivered four- to five-feet conditions.

The Australian 2016 and 2017 world champion next faces Marks, the 2023 winner, in a big quarterfinal duel.

Wright's compatriots produced two of the day's highlights, with Nichols exceptional in winning her round-of-16 heat against Hawaiian rival Gabriela Bryan.

Surfing resumes at Pipe Pro in Hawaii as three Aussies make quarterfinals

Isabella Nichols is through to the quarterfinals. (Getty Images: World Surf League/Tony Heff)

Nichols posted the highest wave score, 8.67, and the highest heat total, 14.17, of the event so far among the men and women.

"I don't know where that wave came from, but I'm very happy that it came to me in that heat," Nichols said.

"I was sitting out there dreaming: 'imagine how sick it would be if I could get one of these waves and get a vision and get barrelled in the heat,' and then it happened."

Picklum started the day by winning her round-one heat and then levelled the score with Canadian tour rookie Erin Brooks in the last heat of the round of 16.

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After Brooks beat Picklum late last season, the Australian rode just three waves in tricky conditions to hold her off this time, 10.83 to 7.33.

"I feel right at home when it's all crazy out there," Picklum said.

"There were a couple unridden gems that I saw that I was just like, 'oh, I'd so love to have a crack at that'," she said.

"But obviously I'm so happy to have just got it done. Turns or barrels, whatever, I'm stoked to be making heats."

Nichols takes on American Lakey Peterson in the quarters, while Picklum will surf against Costa Rican Brisa Hennessy.

Simmers, the reigning world champion, faces fellow American Sawyer Lindblad in the remaining quarterfinal. 

Fitzgibbons, the three-time world championship runner-up, was last in her three-surfer elimination heat.

AAP

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