Small surf forced organisers to call off the scheduled opening day on Friday, but the championship tour contest started early on Saturday morning.

The women entered the water first before the men's seeding heats began about 10am.

Merewether's Morgan Cibilic faces a daunting opener in heat six against Newcastle Cup winner Italo Ferreira and three-time world champion Mick Fanning, who is a wildcard entrant to the Northern Beaches event.

Ryan Callinan, who Cibilic eliminated from the Newcastle Cup, comes up against Michel Bourez (France) and Leonardo Fioravanti (Italy) in heat eight.

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Adopted Novocastrian Julian Wilson takes on Conner Coffin (USA) and Miguel Pupo (Brazil) in heat 10.

Two surfers from each heat advance straight to the round of 32, while the lowest scoring competitor has to surf in an elimination round.

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