Stephanie Gilmore will have to find a new way if the surfing legend is to win a historic eighth world title this season.

Gilmore struggled in Friday’s massive conditions at Bells Beach and lost to Hawaiian Malia Manuel in the Rip Curl Pro quarter-finals.

The reigning world champion also exited the opening tour event on the Gold Coast in the quarters.

Gilmore habitually has started a world title season with a big result in at least one of the Australian events.

The defending champion at Bells Beach holds the women’s record of seven world titles along with compatriot Layne Beachley.

“To start the year with two quarters is not world title-worthy, but it’s a long year,” said Gilmore, a four-time winner at Bells Beach.

“Starting the year like this is not the best, but anything’s possible. This is just the beginning ... maybe I’m just going about it in a way, a new route.”

Manuel switched to a bigger board and claimed a 10.77 points to 8.70 triumph, her first heat win over Gilmore.

Hawaii’s John John Florence surfs during the heats of the Rip Curl Pro at Bells Beach on Friday. Photograph: William West/AFP/Getty Images

The Australian had looked good in the morning’s warm-up, but struggled to find the right waves in their heat.

“My 50-year storm was like a five-minute storm - it was kind-of ‘victory at sea’,” Gilmore said of the historic conditions at Bells Beach.

“I just found myself copping all the big ones on the head and it was a pretty bad performance from both of us, really - it was just a wave-catching contest.”

Manuel, 25, advanced to her semi-final against American 17-year-old phenomenon Caroline Marks, the tour leader.

Ricardo Christie of New Zealand surfs during the heats of the Rip Curl Pro at Bells Beach. Photograph: William West/AFP/Getty Images

“I survived the 50-year storm today,” Manuel said.

“I’ve had these step-ups since Hawaii when I was in the off-season so I’m very fortunate I get to practice on bigger boards like this at home.

“I rode five inches up from my normal board so it still felt good because I had some time on it in the winter.”

Marks downed Brisa Hennessy from Hawaii on Friday morning and is unbeaten so far this year, winning the tour opener on the Gold Coast.

Gilmore was the last Australian to be eliminated in the women’s competition, with Americans Lakey Peterson and Courtney Conlogue joining Manuel and Marks in the semis.

Meanwhile, Gabriel Medina looked one of the brightest in the men’s competition early on, throwing down a huge 9.10 ride early on Friday as the swell continued to build to 13-14 metres, comfortably downing Australian wildcard Reef Heazlewood.

Shortly afterwards, one of the favourites John John Florence produced an even better 9.50 ride, as part of a combined score of 17.67 to progress past Brazil’s Jadson Andre.

Not only has @johnjohnflorenc just dropped a 9.50, but this swell is STILL BUILDING 🙌

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Tune in LIVE to watch the #RipCurlPro in massive Bells Beach on https://t.co/ie0ZfNdmHw, Facebook Live or the WSL app! @ripcurl pic.twitter.com/GepcFOHsO3 — World Surf League (@wsl) April 26, 2019

The two titles will be decided on Saturday, the end of the event waiting period.