Organisers of the World Surf League's El Salvador Pro have called a fourth successive lay-day, leaving Steph Gilmore, Tyler Wright and Liam O'Brien sweating over potential finals appearances.
The three Australians have been waiting since Monday to get back in the water and contest their semi-finals in the seventh stop of the Championship Tour season.
But an overnight storm coupled with continued poor swell and messy conditions on Thursday have paused competition for at least another 24 hours.
"This morning we were faced with an underperforming swell and churned ocean surface from an overnight storm, making conditions even more jumbled," the WSL's director of tours and competition Renato Hickel said.
"Tomorrow's forecast looks more promising on size and quality and we are confident it could be the event's finals day."
There is guaranteed to be at least one Australian finalist with eight-time world champion Gilmore set to face world No.2 Wright in the last four.
The winner of their heat will take on Hawaii's Carissa Moore, five times a winner of the world title, or the up-and-coming USA surfer Caroline Marks in the women's final.
In the men's competition, O'Brien faces a daunting semi-final challenge against world No.1 and reigning El Salvador men's champion Griffin Colapinto.
A 24-year-old from the Gold Coast, O'Brien is bidding to reach his first final on the Championship Tour.
The other half of the draw pits rookie Ian Gentil against reigning world champion Filipe Toledo from Brazil.
