Bells Beach will crown a first-time women’s champion after a morning of carnage for the favourites.
Two-time defending champion Tyler Wright, fellow two-time winner Sally Fitzgibbons and world number one Molly Picklum were all eliminated on Wednesday in the round of 16.
Wright fell to local wildcard Ellie Harrison, who has become the giant-killer on debut in the championship tour.
A day after winning her heat and sending Picklum to the elimination round, Harrison stunned the sport again when the 18-year 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 women’s quarterfinalist at her local break.
In a nailbiting end to their heat, Wright posted a 7.07 wave score that briefly gave her the lead, but seconds later Harrison earned a 6.40 score that gave her the win, 13.73 to 12.79.
“As soon as I saw the heats come out, I thought ‘oh no’ — I look up to Tyler so much,” Harrison said.
“She is the nicest person in the water, gives me compliments, she is such a cool 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 wildcard entry.
Fellow Australian Picklum, who was the world number one coming into Bells Beach, also was eliminated on Wednesday morning in another boilover.
American Sawyer Lindblad beat Picklum, who had struggled in her previous two heats.
It means the two women’s finalists from last year have failed to reach the last eight.
Harrison is into the quarterfinals against French surfer Johanne Defay, who beat Fitzgibbons in the opening round-of-16 heat and has replaced Picklum on top of the world rankings.
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AAP
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