Participants in the 2021 National Surfing Championships fronted up to massive two metre swell conditions at Piha Beach yesterday.

Day one of the event was completed with New Zealand's top male surfers putting in some committed performances to advance through the early rounds.

The large West Coast swell hammered the line up with light variable winds in the morning that turned sea breeze in the afternoon, as the swell slowly abated.

Olympic hopeful Kehu Butler (Mount Maunganui) found himself in the opening heat of the entire event.

Butler pushed the limits on the way to a comfortable heat win despite buckling his board and having return to shore to get a backup surfboard midway through the heat. Butler posted a 12.5 point heat total to advance to the Round of 32.

Advancing alongside Butler was Waihi Beach surfer Levi Stewart who was one of several top seeds to advance including Josef Jungwirth (Raglan) and Luis Southerwood who both looked in sharp form.

Making a comeback to the competitive arena was ex-New Zealand representative Sean Peggs (Tairua) who instantly found his rhythm to advance through to the next round with an 11.8 point heat total and the heat win.

Surfers advancing today will meet up with the top seeds at the event on day two with seven-time national champion Billy Stairmand (Raglan) and others set to hit the water mid-morning immediately after New Zealand's top female surfers open the day's proceedings.

The junior divisions rounded out the day with Jungwirth again in dominant form posting the single highest wave score of the day with an 8.25 point ride and 13.25 point total. Gisborne's Finn Vette was close behind with an impressive 13.0 point heat total and win, advancing to the quarterfinals which will be contested on day two.

Jungwirth and Vette were joined by the likes of Tom Butland (Taranaki), Tom Robinson (Whangarei) and Kora Cooper (Raglan) who all looked to have early season form pushing through to the last 16 surfers.

In the Under 16 Boys Division, local Piha surfer Bill Byers made up for an early loss in the Under 18 Boys Division with a comprehensive heat win in the final heat of the day. Navryn Malone made it two wins for the day in his heat and Mount Maunganui's Tao Mouldey advanced to the quarterfinals with the highest score of the round, an 11.5 point heat total.

Day two will see the introduction of the female divisions with the Open Women's Division starting the day followed by the second round of the Open Men's Division featuring the event's top seeds.

Action will take place from 8am – 4pm daily with the primary venue being at the southern end of Piha Beach. The event runs until January 16.