Aussie surfing duo dumped from El Salvador Pro
But there was better news for compatriot Ryan Callinan, who progressed out of Heat 2 in the Punta Roca water on Friday.
A day after top-ranked Aussies Ethan Ewing and Molly Picklum recorded opening-round wins on the fourth stop of the championship tour, veteran Fitzgibbons struggled in three-to-four-foot waves and missed her chance to progress to the round of 16.
After American Sawyer Lindblad took out Heat 1, world No.16 Fitzgibbons could only muster wave scores of 5.50 and 4.50 to finish third in Heat 2, behind Brazil's Luana Silva (13.00), the 2024 world junior champion, and event wildcard Alyssa Spencer (11.33) of the US. "This wave has so many factors, the heat, the rocks, the sun in your face," said Silva.
"7am, that sun's straight in your face, and it's really hard to navigate the waves with the sun directly in your face. I was trying to feel the wave, and just try to open up as much as I can."
World No.17 O'Brien also finished a disappointing third in the men's second heat, his best two-wave score totalling 10.33, behind Southern California's Levi Slawson (13.10) and Alejo Muniz (11.47) of Brazil.
first CT event and first CT heat win ✅Levi takes on Ethan in R/32 Heat 5 nextThe @surfcity #ElSalvadorPro is LIVE. Tune in at https://t.co/ie0ZfMWjFw pic.twitter.com/a0Bs9ZVAqp
— World Surf League (@wsl) April 4, 2025
Through to the round of 32 though is world No.29 Callinan, who was second in Heat 4 behind 2022 rookie of the year Samuel Pupo.
The Brazilian enjoyed his highest score of the season, bettering the 32-year-old from Newcastle 14.07 to 13.07.
Local wildcard Bryan Perez (14.13) showed his knowledge and power at his home break to win Heat 1 and advance alongside Pupo's older brother Miguel.
"I just wanna have fun in the water. Just enjoy my time, catch the wave, and have fun, just letting go of everything," said Perez.
"I'm here with my family, with my coach, with the people that come to the city to support me. It's beautiful to see."
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