Australia's surfing championship leader Joel Parkinson took early honours after round one of the Rip Curl Pro in Portugal, posting the highest heat total on Saturday.

Parkinson, who holds a slight edge over 11-times champion Kelly Slater and countryman Mick Fanning, finished with a 17.17 out of a possible 20 to take day one honours and advance straight to the third round.

The 31-year-old is yet to claim an event win on tour this year, despite leading the title race, and said rectifying that was his main aim this week at the third-last event of the world surfing season.

"I'm here to win," Parkinson said.

"Everyone is. I've had a few seconds this year but am keen to put a win on the board.

"I'm not thinking about the world title race really. I need to get some wins first before that can become a reality."

Fanning suffered a surprise loss in the first round to fellow Australian Kieren Perrow but bounced back to eliminate French wildcard Pierre-Valentin Laborde in the second round.

"I was a little bit freaked out this morning," Fanning admitted.

"The waves weren't that great so I just wanted to go out again and catch waves in the afternoon's heat.

"I've been a little bit on edge ... so it was good to get a few waves under the belt and just relax a little."

Two-times world champ Fanning said he had been trying to re-invent himself in an attempt to track down Parkinson and win a third ASP world title.

"It's been a while and I sort of almost moved on from those first two World Titles," Fanning said.

"I've been trying to re-invent myself so I'm not too stressed and I'm having a lot more fun this year.

"I just want to surf well and if I can do that consistently you know I'll be happy."

Slater, Australian trio Owen Wright, Julian Wilson and Josh Kerr, as well as Brazil's Gabriel Medina and Frenchman Jeremy Flores also topped their first round heats.