ISEI Tokovou put up a spirited effort against 11-time world champion Kelly Slater but day two here belonged to rookie Gabriel Medina.
Born and bred in soccer-mad Brazil, Medina showed in one breath-taking ride through a barrel that if the likes of Ronaldinho, Rivaldo, Romario, Ronaldo and Kaka can mesmerise millions the world over with their skills in the round-ball sport, then he can be just as good gliding the waves.
Yeah, I did play soccer but my mum and my step-dad kind of influenced me into surfing, the 18-year-old from Sao Paulo offered with a smile.
Medina, in his first season on the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) 2012 World Championship, was even shocked himself following his hair-raising Perfect 10 ride through a hollow breaking wave.
He got off to a good start but with the barrel closing in and smashing away, he was nowhere to be seen and everyone thought he was swept under the giant eight-footer.
With seconds he emerged out of it crouching almost to his ankles at some speed, swerved to the tip of the breaker and got away with the perfect 10, the first of the competition.
Damn that was amazing. I never thought I could get out of it, Medina said.
I just kept going with waves all over me. I almost gave up but got on with it and got away. I am even surprised myself as to how I did it.
With 16.67 points, Medina beat Australias Yadin Nicol in his heat on day two of the Volcom Fiji Pro at Cloudbreak.
Earlier, Fiji hopeful Isei Tokovou was ousted by the heats firm favourite Slater.
Tokovou did not have a good first ride but did far better with his second, however, his hunt for the right giant wave so he could show his strength in the barrel proved futile.
He got going in his third attempt but his turn was wrong and lost balance.
I could have done better, but thats what the sport is all about, Tokovou said. One wrong option, wrong choice of wave and youre beaten.
Other exceptional surfs of the day came from Australian pair Julian Wilson, who got a 9.47 on one wave and Kieren Perrow (9.40) although the latter was pipped and eliminated by his fellow countryman Adrian Buchan who tallied 17.04 points to Perrows 16.23.