The New Zealand Surfing Team stepped up their performances on day three of the INS ISA World Surfing Games in Costa Rica with several good heat wins at Jaco Beach.

The surf remained about the 1m – 1.5m mark throughout the day yesterday but it is expected to increase during the later stages of the week.

Mount Maunganui surfer Matt Hewitt. Photo: Col/Surf2Surf.com

Zen Wallis shared a heat with Billy Stairmand to finish the first repechage round. Wallis got the better of the exchange finishing with a near perfect 9.50 point ride to leap frog Stairmand for the heat win, both surfers advancing to the next round with vast improvements on their day-one performances.

'It came down to getting better waves,” says Wallis. 'In my first heat the waves I caught were really difficult to surf.

'It was also a lot more random and difficult to pick good waves. In my last heat however, I could see clearly where the best waves were before my heat and was able to position myself there,” added Wallis who, despite having Stairmand in the heat, opted to avoid any tactical team surfing against their opponents.

'I wanted us both to get through but I know Billy can take care of surfing his way through heats and I just focused on my game plan… I always prefer a surfing competition over a paddling competition.”

Wallis finished with a 16.77 point heat total to advance alongside Stairmand on 15.13 points, Stairmand also showing some good form, his best wave scoring 8.40.

Earlier in the round, Mount Maunganui's Matt Hewitt progressed through his heat in second place posting a 10.90 point heat total to finish behind Anderson Tascon of Columbia.

'I just tried to be a little more busy in my heat and I knew if I got a decent wave I could get good scores but finding those waves was pretty tricky so I was stoked to get that one last wave in my heat,” says Hewitt, who had to surf during the higher tide when waves were softer and slower.

Hewitt was matched up against Raglan surfer Taylor Hutchison and unfortunately they could not both progress, Hutchison finishing just behind Hewitt in third place and he was eliminated from the event finishing 73rd.

In the Women's Division, Ella Williams continued her march in the main event by winning her second round match up to advance to the final twelve surfers.

A closer tussle with her opponents today saw Williams win with a 9.60 point heat total to advance ahead of Australian surfer Codie Klein.

'Today was a little tricky, but I'm happy to progress through. Every heat is a great opportunity to get to know the wave better,” says Williams, who paid tribute to her supportive team mates for giving her added confidence.

After winning yesterday, Williams will enjoy a lay day on day four of the event before getting back in the water for her third round match up against surfers from Portugal, Costa Rica and Argentina.

The youngest of the New Zealand Team, Mount Maunganui's Raiha Ensor, could not join Williams in the third round finishing her heat in fourth place and moving down to the repechage rounds.

Ensor faced a tough second round match up with Portugal surfers Teresa Bonvalot and Carol Henrique advancing.

After three days of the event, New Zealand sits in eleventh position overall having lost one surfer from the event.

The World Surfing Games are being held from August 6 to 14.

Individual, Team and Tag Team medals will be awarded on the final day of the event. Please see below for results from day three of the INS ISA World Surfing Games being held at Jaco Beach, Costa Rica.

More than 140 athletes from 26 countries are attending the event, the first held by the ISA since surfing was added to the Tokyo 2020 Olympics last week.

The New Zealand Team is ranked eighth in the world which qualifies them to compete in the Aloha Cup Tag Team event comprising the top eight nations.

This team-format event will take place in the last few days leading up to the individual finals.

Women's Main Event Round 2 Heat 5 1, Ella Williams (NZL), 9.60, 2, Codie Klein (AUS), 8.27, 3, Idalis Alvarado (PUR), 7.90, 4, Maddy Maliza (RUS), 4.77

Heat 6 1, Teresa Bonvalot (POR), 13.83, 2, Carol Henrique (POR), 13.10, 3, Brittani Nicholl (AUS), 8.17, 3, 4, Raiha Ensor (NZL), 7.93

Men's Repechage Round 1 Heat 2 1, Anderson Tascon (COL), 15.07, 2, Matt Hewitt (NZL), 10.90, 3, Taylor Hutchison (NZL), 9.54, 4, Neo Escalor Gallego (COL), 6.23

Heat 12 1, Zen Wallis (NZL), 16.77, 2, Billy Stairmand (NZL), 15.13, 3, Gefre Lima (GUA), 6.54, 4, Daniel Olmos (COL), 5.24