Surfest runner-up Ryan Callinan and Merewether clubmate Jackson Baker got the most out of small waves at Manly to win their round two heats at the Sydney Surf Pro on Tuesday.
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Callinan was busy early in his first heat of the 10,000-point qualifying series contest, leading with scores on his backhand of 3.97 then a 7.33 from a foam climb and two snaps.
American Pat Gudauskas took over in the four-man heat with an 8.0 and 4.77 (12.77) but Callinan improved his best two-wave total with a 4.67 on his backhand then a 6.17 on his forehand to go to 13.5.
Callinan, the world No.14, dropped to second behind Gudauskas (13.67) on the final siren after the American's 5.67, but the Australian went to 13.86 when his final score of 6.53 dropped. The goofy-footer had landed a front-side air reverse with about 90 seconds left. Brazilian Alejo Muniz (13.10) and South African Slade Prestwich (5.80) were eliminated.
It was Callinan's first heat since losing to Julian Wilson in the 5000-point Surfest Newcastle Pro on Sunday at Merewether. The championship tour stars tied on 14.27 but Wilson won with the highest single wave score.
Callinan starts his third CT campaign at Snapper Rocks on March 26 and hopes to focus on tour events only after the Manly contest.
"This and Newcastle are a good warm-up for Snapper and I was stoked to get a good result at Newcastle, but just to roll through and make some heats here and see how it goes," Callinan said of his ambitions at Manly
"I'm excited and hopefully the waves get a bit better."
He next takes on Lucca Mesinas, Jesse Mendes and Matthew McGillivray in the 12th and final heat of round three.
Baker, second in his round-one heat on Monday, beat defending champion Jordy Lawler, Hawaiian Cody Young and CT competitor Frederico Morais.
The natural-footer followed the lead of rising star Jack Robinson and surfed well away from his rivals to chase rights. He opened with a 5.83 then went from last to first with two powerhouse turns for a 7.73 12 minutes into the 30-minute heat. He backed it up with a 6.0, and his 13.73 total was enough to beat Lawler (13.33), Young (10.93) and Morais (10.1).
"I made the decision to go down the beach," Baker said.
"I watched Jack Robbo down there and felt like that was me going towards my strengths, so I'm very happy I made that decision.
"But I was definitely prepared to die with the decision as well, when you risk it like that, you've got to be prepared for the consequences."
He faces Ian Gouveia, Michael Dunphy and Adrian Buchan in heat nine of round three.
Merewether's Philippa Anderson is up in the next heat of the women's round three against Johanne Defay and Meah Collins.
