Kiwis ride waves of success

New Zealand surfers Ella Williams and Billy Stairmand remain in contention for medals at the Tokyo Olympics following their fine efforts yesterday.

Williams and Stairmand were clearly in good spirits after they learned they had earned the right to go through to round three at Tsurigasaki Surfing Beach today, embracing supporters after the respective results were posted.

Williams finished second behind Caroline Marks from the United States in heat five of the first round in the women’s competition; the judges deemed the New Zealander had done enough to score a total of 9.7 points, while Marks was awarded 13.4 points.

The first two place getters automatically qualified for the third round. Sixteen surfers from the eight heats contest round three.

Williams will be in action at 11.12am against Brisa Hennessey, of Costa Rica, while Billy Stairmand will compete at 5.12pm against Italo Ferreira, of Brazil.

Stairmand, who posted 11.34 points, came third in the first heat of the second round in the men’s event.

John John Florence, of the United States, finished first (12.77) and Rio Waida, from Indonesia, came second (11.53).

The second round was a repechage round comprising two heats, with five surfers in each heat. The bottom two were eliminated.

Stairmand admitted to feeling nervous prior to his heat, but didn’t allow that to overshadow his performance on the water.

‘‘I felt way more comfortable in that heat to be honest,’’ Stairmand told Sky Sport.

The surfers will be seeded into eight heats with two competitors in each in the third round. The surfer who wins the heat advances, the other is eliminated.