A near-perfect performance from John John Florence was the only thing keeping West Australian charger Jack Robinson from a victory in Hawaii that will help kickstart his 2022 World Tour campaign.

Two-time world champion Florence was almost flawless on his way to a win in the Haleiwa Challenger event, with a perfect 10 in his two-wave total of 18.03 (of a possible 20).

But Robinson was not far off, carrying on the form that helped him to his first championship tour win in Mexico in August that sealed his requalification on the world’s best league.

The 24-year-old finished second in the four-man final with 15.03 points, ahead of Japan’s Kanoa Igarashi (14.54) and Brazilian Samuel Pupo (10.13).

Having cut his teeth on the Margaret River break in Western Australia and a former winner of the Van World Cup at famous Sunset Beach on Hawaii’s north shore, Robinson is perfectly comfortable in heavy conditions and showed that in his first decider at Haleiwa.

“That was a good run and it was funny because John and I were in a paddle battle before he just turned and went on a wave,” said Robinson.

“I think that put him in a good rhythm with those two waves and I turned around thinking what just happened.

“But it was such a fun event and a good tune-up for next year.”

Robinson, who first qualified for the championship tour at the end of 2019 before having to sit out the 2020 season due to the pandemic, will be back in Hawaii in January for the opening event of the season at Pipeline.

“It’s been two years since I’ve qualified now and everything here feels so different, but at the same time it’s the same beautiful place and I’m just excited to be back,” he said.

The opening round of women’s competition was also held at Haleiwa, with Australians Molly Picklum and India Robinson advancing to keep alive their hopes of sealing a championship tour spot for next season.