Baker was searching for a strong result at the Challenger Series finale to keep his spot in the top 12 who move onto the CT, but the Merewether surfer bowed out with a third in the round of 64. Sitting effectively 11^th in the standings before the event, Baker lost to American Crosby Colapinto (16, 8.67 + 7.33) and Hawaiian Seth Moniz (13.5, 6 + 7.5) with a total of 12.57 (8.1 + 4.47).

Baker put himself in the hunt with an 8.1, from a huge layback snap and air-drop finish, with 17 minutes remaining. He needed a 5.4 to jump into second and progress but failed to make the most of two medium-sized waves.

He gained a 4.17 on a wave with 11 minutes left. He then waited with priority for the right wave in the final minutes before standing up on one with just five seconds to go. He put in three turns but earned only a 4.47.

It was the third time on the four-event CS that he was eliminated in his first heat. He rocketed into contention with a runner-up finish at the Portugal contest. It now appears likely he will drop out of the top 12 and miss out on a debut CT season.

Clubmate Philippa Anderson and Redhead's Sarah Baum, who need a finals result in the women's event, were yet to surf.

Meanwhile, Merewether Surfboard Club will rely on a wildcard to compete at the Australian Boardriders Battle national final at Newcastle after missing out at the NSW Central qualifier at Narrabeen on Saturday.

North Steyne Boardriders won the spot, ahead of North Narrabeen, Longy and North Avalon.

FRIDAY: Jackson Baker will turn to Hawaiian specialist Kekoa Bacalso and two other world-class coaches as he searches for an edge in his quest to qualify for the Championship Tour at the Haleiwa Challenger.

The Merewether surfer is effectively 11^th on the Challenger Series, and inside the top 12 cut line to make the 2022 world tour, with the final event to potentially start on Saturday morning (AEDT).

Two heat wins will likely keep him inside the top 12 and make his dream of making the elite tour a reality.

Baker starts in heat three in the round of 64 where he will face Hawaiian CT surfer Seth Moniz, Japan's Hiroto Ohhara and a qualifier from the round of 80.

The 24-year-old has had two first-round exits on the CS but a career-best run to the final in Portugal in between has him within reach of qualification.

With the support of Merewether Surfboard Club, Baker has had guidance from clubmate and former world No.2 Luke Egan for his CS campaign. He has also had help from Richard "Dog" Marsh, who coaches clubmate and world No.15 Ryan Callinan.

Now, Baker is learning from Rip Curl team manager and Hawaiian local Kekoa Bacalso, who helped Merewether's world No.5 Morgan Cibilic qualify in 2019 at the home of surfing.

And Baker was trying to soak it all in.

"I've known him for quite a long time," Baker said of Bacalso. "I actually call him Dad when we're on the road, just to give him a bit of stick.

"But we've got a really good relationship. He helped Morgan and Matty McGillivray qualify in 2019, so he's definitely got a good track record, but just his knowledge of everything here, from boards to waves to tides, is something I'll definitely take on board.

"It's definitely something a lot of people won't have. Just having someone like that in your corner definitely helps.

"Also working with Richard "Dog" Marsh in Europe, I'm still talking with him on the phone, and Luke Egan back home, so I've got a lot of knowledge."

Baker, with his heavy-footed, powerhouse style, thrived on the long rights of Ericeira in Portugal and he was hoping to again carve his way through to the later rounds on the typically big, open-faced waves of Haleiwa.

"I think the wave suits your bigger, stockier blokes, which I kind of am," he said.

"It is a big, solid wave with a lot of water moving. It's an amazing, world-class wave, but it is hard work.

"I haven't had much success out there before in the Triple Crown, but every year I've been scraping into the Triple Crown, so I've never had the greatest prep. I think I've scraped through a couple of good heats there but nothing big.

"I've had some free surfs [in the lead-up], but just knowing the wave suits your surfing and using the right board, I don't see there being an issue."

Mentally, Baker is regrouping after a frustrating first-round exit in France, following his success in Portugal. He was a narrow third in the heat, which was the only double-banked clash of the event. Baker thought he got the score late and admitted he was "pretty emotional" after the loss, but said he had "reset" for the finale.

"It was such a big learning curve going from such a high to a first round again and getting my head in the right spot," he said. "In hindsight, I was probably still riding that second when I should have been probably regrouping.

"But it's a tricky thing. You want to take the positives and the confidence from the event, but in hindsight it was probably best just to completely forget about it, but that's hard as well.

"You've got all the commentary, everyone talking about the last event, you can't really escape it, so it's more about getting it out of your head."

In the women's, Merewether's Philippa Anderson (ranked 25th) and Redhead-based Sarah Baum (24th) will need finals result to have any chance of rising into the top-six qualifiers.

Anderson starts in heat three against Dimity Stoyle, Mahina Maeda and Freya Prumm. Baum is in heat seven against Shino Matsuda, Leilani McGonagle and Amuro Tsuzuki.

Closer to home, Merewether Surfboard Club will defend their Central NSW title in the Australian Boardriders Battle regional qualifier at Narrabeen on Saturday.

Zack McMahon, Mikey Clayton-Brown, Egan, Amelie Bourke and Ollie Ryssenbeek will represent the club.

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content: