Callinan no-show, will be back after pre-Burleigh baby
The waves arrived but so did Ryan Callinan's newborn, the pre-tournament delivery forcing the Australian to miss his opening-round Gold Coast Pro heat.
Callinan's wife gave birth on Friday night, meaning the Newcastle product was a no-show when the Championship Tour returned to the Gold Coast for the first time since 2019 on Saturday morning.
He will still feature though, set to return for the sudden-death second round that will also include high-profile compatriots Jack Robinson and Julian Wilson.
Bells Beach champion and No.3-ranked Robinson (9.13 points) couldn't get going in his heat against Alan Cleland (10.27) and Callum Robson (13.26).
Wilson (14.07), back at CT level for the first time since his 2019 retirement after winning qualifying on Friday, was shot down in a high-scoring heat by No.1-ranked Italo Ferreira (16.03) and Burleigh Heads local Liam O'Brien (15.77).
Australian No.2 Ethan Ewing won his heat and was encouraged by what he saw from the building Burleigh swell after a season stunted by below-par conditions.
Jordan Lawler will also surf in a sudden-death second-round heat, while Joel Vaughan is yet to enter the water.
Stephanie Gilmore, an eight-time world champion and six-time event winner, will compete for the first time since August 2023 as a wildcard.
There are five other Australian women in the field, including Bells Beach champion Isabella Nichols.
The Gold Coast stop was shifted from the traditional Snapper Rocks location due to erosion created by Cyclone Alfred in March.
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