France's Justin Becret and Mexico’s Alan Cleland, pictured, both scored impressively today as action continued at the World Junior Surfing Championships in Huntington Beach in the United States ©ISA/Ben Reed

France's Justin Becret and Mexico's Alan Cleland both performed impressively today as action continued at the World Junior Surfing Championships in Huntington Beach in the United States.

Becret's wave score of 9.53 points in the boys' under-18 division was the highest of the day and also resulted in the biggest heat total of 16.36 at Huntington Beach Pier.

Cleland, meanwhile, finished his boys' under-16 heat with a total of 13.17 points.

Australia's Molly Picklum and Peru's Sol Aguirre also delivered strong performances today in the girls'under-16 category.

Picklum's single wave scores of 8.5 and 6.73 points earned her the highest heat total among the girls with 15.23, while Aguirre managed 13.77 overall.

Additionally, the 13 International Surfing Association (ISA) scholarship ambassadors competing in this year's Championships have been demonstrating the improvement in their surfing since winning the award.

Several of them have advanced through the main event of the competition, including Hawaii's Summer Macedo, the 2015 under-16 gold medallist, in the girls' under-18 division.

Others progressing include Peru's Amaru Rodriguez in the boys' under-16 and Daniella Rosas in the girls' under-16.

Rodriguez was able to take top honours in his round two heat, holding off home favourite Levi Slawson.

Peru's Amaru Rodriguez continued his strong performance in the boys' under-16 category ©ISA/Ben Reed
Peru's Amaru Rodriguez continued his strong performance in the boys' under-16 category ©ISA/Ben Reed

"I won my ISA scholarship in 2017," he said.

"I am going to use some of the funds to train in Brazil to improve my surfing.

"It's an honour to be among the 300 other surfers that have earned this award.

"I worked hard to be in a position to win the scholarship.

"I was a little nervous when the ISA recognised me on the Opening Ceremony stage as a scholarship ambassador, but it was really amazing."

Reflecting on today's action, ISA President Fernando Aguerre said: "Another full day of competition and another full day of amazing surfing.

"The waves have been excellent and the forecast is looking even better.

"It's amazing to see top performances from the staple athletes that we have seen perform well in past years of this event, but it's also great to see new surfers step into the spotlight and assert their talent with the whole world watching.

"Tomorrow we have the first repechage rounds, which will result in fierce competition and eliminate the first athletes from the event."