The 30-year-old was the star attraction on day three as the Burton Automotive Pro started the round of 96 after conditions improved with a southerly change following two days of small waves at Dixon Park Beach.

The natural-footer locked in a 5.5 early with a series of forehand hits before earning a heat-high 7.33 with a long flowing ride right to the beach at the halfway point.

He caught five waves in total and his 12.83 best two-wave score was easily enough to win the four-man, 25-minute heat ahead of Miguel Tudela (8.93), Samuel Pupo (8.67) and Zack McMahon (7.53).

"It was nice out there to get some waves, the last couple of days have been pretty small," Wilson said. "It's pretty ideal for the competition, I think. It's nice and challenging, although it's definitely not perfect. It's nice that it's off the rocks here so you have a consistent wave, good right-handers."

It was his first heat since he finished second to Brazilian Gabriel Medina in the world title race and at the Pipe Masters in December.

A 6000-point World Surf League qualifying series event at Merewether is a long way from the thrill of a world title bout but Wilson said he was far from relaxed.

"Never, never a relaxing heat," he said. "It was good to get the excitement going, and I was nervous and excited."

The Queenslander now lives in Merewether with wife, Ashley, and their baby daughter, Olivia, who were on hand on Wednesday. In the water, Wilson looked right at home in the wind-blown, choppy conditions.

"I've been visiting the area for the last five years, since I met my wife, and I'm now living here," he said. "Living in Merewether, it's really handy and it's a nice area."

He later told the WSL: “It’s obviously different to Pipe but I still have the same motivating factors." 

“I love competing and having success in surfing events so there’s no difference there. Plus on the QS you can get tricky conditions which challenge you and it’s really competitive with four-man heats and a lot of assertive competitors which is good. This is definitely the biggest event I get to be at home for, which is fun. I’m not really that used to it, to be honest, as I’ve only recently moved here.”

Surfest 2016 champion Matt Wilkinson, fighting to get back on the championship tour, was a notable casualty late in the day.

Needing a 6.7, the Central Coast product was given 6.53 for a last-minute ride. 

World No.9 Wade Carmichael won his heat, as did 2011 Surfest champion Dion Atkinson and 2014 winner Matt Banting. 

Merewether's Ryan Callinan was set to surf in the second heat on Thursday, as early as 7.40am.

On Wednesday morning, new Novocastrian Sarah Baum was eliminated in round two of the Holmes Civil Developments Pro women's contest.