Six-time world surfing champion Kelly Slater rode his lucky board into the quarters finals of the Quiksilver Pro France on Friday.

Slater picked off three good scores against Brazilian Peterson Rosa before his opponent had even stood up in round four of the $US250,000 ($A363,270) World Championship Tournament event contested in superb 1.3m waves.

Slater emerged from a long tube to score a 9.8 and set up a quarter final clash with fellow Floridian Shea Lopez on Saturday.

"This board is working really good," said the 31-year-old Slater.

"Before I went out, my friend and I were talking about how the waves look like Jeffreys Bay (in South Africa) - the way it's peeling across.

"I just came off a win at Jeffreys, and this is the board I rode.

"Whoever's going to win the world title this year probably needs to place better than third in the remaining events.

"That's what I'm expecting of myself, to get that far in each event because it's going to be a tight one at the end."

Reigning world champion Andy Irons of Hawaii posted a 9.0 on his first ride en route to victory over Australian Mick Campbell and will next meet Californian Taylor Knox, who eliminated Campbell's compatriot Mick Lowe.

"I'm really happy with the way that went," said Irons.

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