It's not just Mount Maunganui whizz kid Kehu Butler stealing the limelight at the 2015 Billabong National Surfing Championships, with teammate Elin Tawharu part of a new wave of female surfers making a name for themselves.

The annual event saw six young surfers force their way into the semi-finals of the Open Women's Division at Piha Beach – leaving just two spots for competitors over 20.

Mount Maunagnui surfer Elin Tawharu at the 2015 Billabong National Surfing Championships. Photo: PhotoCPL.

In a building 1.5m – 2m swell, the young girls, many of whom are contesting three divisions at this week's event, showed they had the ability and the guts to tackle the powerful waves on offer.

Long Bay's Gabriella Sansom top scored for the day, posting 11.83 out of a possible 20 points to win her match up and progress alongside the youngest competitor, Zhana Hutchieson (Taranaki).

The two goofy-footers surfed the Piha Bar, completing some big turns on the end closeout sections to advance.

The pair will now face Mount Maunganui's Tawharu and Britt Kindred (Muriwai) who together eliminated number one seed Jasmine Smith (Gisborne).

Tawharu and Kindred were New Zealand's representatives in 2014 and will relish the chance to contest the semi-finals and have a chance to push for national selection again this year.

Other young surfers to make it through to the semi-final stage included local surfer Claudia Fraser (Piha) and National Under-18 Scholastic Champion Dayna Story (Gisborne).

But the young brigade didn't quite have it all their own way, with 2013 National Champion Mischa Davis (Piha) advancing through her heat alongside Jessica Santorik (Raglan) - a past finalist on several occasions who is yet to win the title.

Kehu Butler also continues to impress, dominating the quarter-finals of the Junior Men's Division along with winning through to the semi-finals of both the Under-18 and Under-16 divisions.

Butler will face off against Tauranga surfer Callum Chuter as well as Taylor Hutchison (Raglan) and Manu Scott-Arrieta (Sandy Bay) in the Under-18 semi-finals after posting a 14.2 point heat total to advance alongside Chuter, who scored 12.10.

Early in the day the Stand Up Paddleboard Divisions were contested. Defending champion Shayne Baxter (Christchurch) will get the chance to go head to head with Daniel Kereopa (Raglan) again, with the two surfers battling it out in numerous finals in the past.

The pair will be joined by 2010 champion Lynden Kennings (Whangamata) and Waihi Beach surfer Ben Poulter.

It was Poulter's older sister, Alexis, that defended her title in the Women's Stand Up Paddleboard Division, defeating the Auckland pairing of Penelope Strickland and Maria Kingi as well as Renee Davenport (Raglan).

Thomas Kibblewhite made a successful return to domestic competition winning his way through to the final of the Men's Longboard Division.

Kibblewhite recently contested the World Championships in China where he placed 17th and qualified for the 2015 event to be held later in the year.

He will be joined by Andrew Robinson (Auckland), Tane Wallis (Piha) and Jordan Griffin (Mount Maunganui) in the final.

The top seeds of the Open Men's Division have had a long wait to compete this week but it looks likely that they will hit the water on day four.

The likes of top seed and four-time national champion Maz Quinn (Gisborne) will hit the water along with the highest internationally ranked surfer in the event, Billy Stairmand.

The swell is forecast to plateau overnight with more favourable and lighter winds forecast for day four of the event.