Local favourites Jack Robinson and Jacob Willcox have made it through their opening heats at the World Surf League Margaret River Pro but 11-time world champion Kelly Slater will face the elimination round after coming up short.

Robinson, the world No.5 coming into his home event which he won the last time he competed in 2022, was up against defending champion Gabriel Medina and another Brazilian Deivid Silva in 2-4ft conditions, and was forced to grind out a result after former world champion Medina posted an early excellent score of 8.50.

After launching an air on his first ride of the day but failing to stick the landing, Robinson eventually found a nice wave on the biggest set of the day to that point, putting together three sharp turns to earn a 7.83.

Silva, who trailed for much of the three-way encounter, conjured his own 7.50 to tighten the scores but Robinson was able to hold on, progressing in second place with a two-wave 14.66 behind Medina (15.00) but ahead of his fellow Brazilian’s 12.83.

“It was good, I was fired up and just trying to make the right decisions,” Robinson said.

“When it is really slow like this and there’s not many waves you just have to be more tactical with what you’ve got.

“It was nice to get going out there. It was back and forth and a really tough heat. I just need to keep pushing and keep focussed on the job.”

Willcox, who is currently below in the mid-season cutline and needs a big result at Main Break to keep his place on the championship tour, came out firing in bigger 4-6ft surf later in the day, posting a 7.60 straight out of the gates after taking a rare wave left.

“That one just kind of peaked its head up and I thought it kind of looks like too good of a left not to go,” he said.

The popular local went on to edge out South African pair Jordy Smith (15.23) and Matthew McGillivray (15.10) with his 16.17 two-wave combination, that included another excellent score of 8.57 for a wave with two big vertical hits.

“It felt good, I feel like I’m starting to compete well again,” Willcox said post-head amid the local fans chanting his name on the steps.

“The first couple events of the year I made some pretty bad mistakes and that’s what has me sitting 27th in the rankings. I got myself into this situation but I feel like if I compete well I can also get myself out of it.

“It feels good to be down here at home. I’m probably biased but it’s so nice to come home and I’m so comfortable here. It’s probably my favourite stop on the tour so far.”

Earlier, Slater appeared set to scrape through to the round of 32 in his head against Morrocan Ramzi Boukhiam and American Jake Marshall before his younger compatriot pulled out a 6.53 inside the final minute of their heat.

A frustrated Slater paddled straight over to South Side at the conclusion of the heat and spent another 30 minute surfing to prepare for the elimination round.

The all-time great has hinted this could be his last visit to Margaret River for competition as he weighs up retirement amid becoming a father for the second time in July.

“I didn’t get a free surf this morning so I was just trying to feel my board on a couple waves, there wasn’t much in the heat to really feel the boards out,” Slater, who posted a two-wave 9.77 (5.07, 4.70), said after finally making his way back in.

“It’s a non-elimination round so it’s not a big deal but it’s still pretty frustrating when you feel something like that happen and the energy is against you and is flowing for someone else. It looked like there was something behind it but it didn’t materialise.”

Boukhiam won the heat with a 13.26 while Marshall moved past Slater with his 11.33.

American world No.1 Griffin Colapinto, Australian No.2 Ethan Ewing and wild-card George Pittar and fellow Aussies Connor O’Leary, Ryan Callinan and Liam O’Brien were among those to also make it through their opening round heats. But other Australian wild-cards Reef Heazlewood will join Slater in the elimination round.

Pittar, 21, upstaged former Margaret River champion John John Florence, who has dominated past events in WA’s South West but will now face the elimination round.

“Coming over here and getting another birth I was just so happy for the opportunity,” Pittar said.

“Coming into that heat I didn’t really have much of an expectation and I just wanted to catch a good wave because I’ve been struggling to get one in the free surfs.

“It was a pretty slow heat but I managed to get a couple and I’m so happy to make it through.”

Florence and Australia’s Callum Robson later made it through the elimination round, with Yallingup’s teenage qualifier Otis North knocked out in the final heat of the day before competition was suspended.

HEAT 1: Imaikalani deVault 14.50 (7.33, 7.17), Eli Hanneman 12.03 (6.23, 5.80), Barron Mamiya 11.33 (6.00, 5.33)

HEAT 2: Gabrielle Medina 15.00 (8.50, 6.50), Jack Robinson 14.66 (7.83, 6.83), Deivid Silva 12.83 (7.50, 5.33)

HEAT 3: Ramzi Boukhiam 13.26 (6.83, 6.43), Jake Marshall 11.53 (6.53, 5.00), Kelly Slater 9.77 (5.07, 4.70)

HEAT 4: George Pittar 11.57 (6.00, 5.57), Ian Gentil 8.87 (5.10, 3.77), John John Florence 6.83 (5.63, 1.20)

HEAT 5: Ethan Ewing 17.00 (9.50, 7.50), Kade Matson 15.00 (8.50, 6.50), Reef Heazlewood 12.30 (6.17, 6.13)

HEAT 6: Seth Moniz 12.70 (7.17, 5.53), Griffin Colapinto 12.20 (6.60, 5.60), Otis North 6.86 (3.93, 2.93)

HEAT 7: Italo Ferreira 17.00 (8.50, 8.50), Kanoa Igarashi 15.07 (7.57, 7.50), Callum Robson 14.57 (8.07, 6.50)

HEAT 8: Caio Ibelli 14.93 (8.00, 6.93), Ryan Callinan 14.33 (7.50, 6.83), Cole Houshmand 12.73 (7.40, 5.33)

HEAT 9: Frederico Morais 13.24 (8.07, 5.17), Crosby Colapinto 12.70 (7.83, 4.87), Yago Dora 9.83 (6.00, 3.83)

HEAT 10: Jacob Willcox 16.17 (8.57, 7.60), Jordy Smith 15.23 (8.90, 6.23), Matthew McGillivray 15.10 (7.80, 7.30)

HEAT 11: Rio Waida 12.56 (6.33, 6.23), Connor O’Leary 12.83 (7.43, 5.40), Samuel Pupo 14.56 (7.33, 7.23)

HEAT 12: Leonardo Fioravanti 16.57 (8.00, 8.57), Liam O’Brien 16.36 (8.33, 8.03), Miguel Pupo 15.37 (8.07, 7.30)