Queenslander Ethan Ewing has bowed out in the semi-finals of the Surf Ranch Pro in a high-quality showdown with Italo Ferreira in the Californian wave pool.
The 24-year-old Bells Beach winner threw everything at the former world champion but came up just short.
The men's event was won by local hope Griffin Colapinto while Hawaiian Carissa Moore downed Caroline Marks to take out the women's title, with both surfers taking over the rankings lead on the back of their victories.
The final-four finish meant Ewing became Australia's highest-ranked surfer at No.4 while former third-ranked Jack Robinson dropped to fifth after his first-round exit.
Tyler Wright, who was also eliminated in the opening heat, dropped from top spot to No.2, followed by compatriot Molly Picklum while defending world champion Stephanie Gilmore is at seven.
Semi-final surfers on Sunday had four waves - two left and two right - with their best two scores counting.
Ewing lay down a stunning first right-hand run to post a score of 9.04 and then backed it up with a 7.33.
However Tokyo Olympic gold medallist Ferreira lit up the crowd with two scores of 8.43 and 8.17 to take the lead.
Ewing went hard on his third and fourth waves but fell on both with the Brazilian veteran - who finished 2022 ranked world No.2 but is currently ranked 16 - not needing to surf his final.
Colapinto reached his third World Surf League final by beating another Brazilian Filipe Toledo.
The 24-year-old Californian then overcame Ferreira by just 0.64 points in the final.
The women's decider was also a tight affair with five-time world champion Moore (16.53) pipping American world No. 4 Marks (15.43).
Ewing earlier eliminated three-time world champion Gabriel Medina in the quarter-finals.
The pair finished locked on 16.67 with the Australian advancing past the Brazilian on a countback having posted the highest wave of the day with a 9.07.
"It's been such a fun two days," said Ewing.
"I did this event a few years ago and didn't do too well but I've been having so much fun.
"It's a really challenging wave but everyone's putting on a show which is cool."
