Hawaiian surfing on hold as major storm approaches

Surfing at the Pipe Pro is again on hold for two days with a major storm forecast to hit Hawaii's North Shore.

After an initial two-day delay as World Surf League organisers await the arrival of suitable conditions at Banzai Pipeline, only one round of the men's competition and two-thirds of the women's event were completed.

Due to the expected arrival of wild conditions, organisers have put competition on hold until Saturday (local time).

With 10 Australians in action, only Molly Picklum missed the chance to hit the water on day one of the season-opening event, with her heat one of two held over.

Jack Robinson starred in the men's event while a fit-and-firing Tyler Wright was the best Australian performer in the women's.

West Australian Robinson, who won an Olympic silver medal last year, got the top-scoring wave of the day, opening with a barrel that scored 8.00.

His two-wave tally was only bested by Championship Tour newcomer, Frenchman Marco Mignot, who tallied 13.33 to comfortably win his heat against Australian Ryan Callinan and Brazilian Joao Chianca.

Eleven-time world champion Kelly Slater, who came out of competitive retirement to take up a wildcard, was a heat winner, as was reigning world No.1 John John Florence, who announced last week he planned to take the year off after his home-town leg.

Of the remainder of the Australian contingent in the men's event, fifth-ranked Ethan Ewing and rookie George Pittar moved directly through to round three after finishing in the top two of their heat.

Another newcomer, 21-year-old Joel Vaughan joined veteran Callinan in the sudden-death round.

Returning to the CT, Sally Fitzgibbons must also make her way through elimination while Isabella Nichols and two-time world champion Wright booked a third-round berth.