The morning began with the Parade of Nations through the the quaint, coastal village of Ribeira Grande on the island of São Miguel.

The countries were led by a local percussion group, whose performance was more than loud enough to wake the sleepy village.

A cacophony of noise bellowed through the streets as the youthful and vibrant side of surfing was exposed not only to the gathered crowds but the rest of the world online. 

Each team marched through Ribeira Grande before filing into the idyllic town square for the main part of the event.

The teams participated in the traditional "Sands of the World Ceremony", pouring sand from their local beaches into a container to symbolise the peaceful gathering of nations through surfing.

This year's event will be the first in the era of Olympic surfing following the International Olympic Committee’s decision to include the sport on the programme for Tokyo 2020. 

Many of the competitors taking part here are expected to take part in the Japanese capital in four years time. 

ISA President Fernando Aguerre delivered a voice message to the participants following his decision not to travel due to a back injury.

"Welcome to all of the teams from the five continents to the beautiful Azores Islands in Portugal," said Aguerre from his home in California. 

"Almost 400 competitors are going to take part in this historic event, the first in the Olympic surfing cycle.

"For you young people, surfing now gives you an opportunity to become an Olympian.

"I wish you all the very best in the competition, surf well and return home to your country as ambassadors of the people of the Azores."

The surfing action got underway this afternoon, following the decision to bring the start forward from tomorrow to make the most of the ideal conditions.

Luis Diaz of Spain scored the highest total in today's boy's under-18 competition.

Diaz scored an impressive 15.1 points to progress to the next round.

Australia's Harley Ross was also in impressive form as he scored 14.44 points to finish in first place of heat four.

Leo Paul Etienne of France also won his respective heat.

The under-16 champion in the 2014 edition of this event claimed a total of 12.16 points.

There was also success for Branden Jones of the United States, Alonso Correa of Costa Rica and Japan's Yujiro Nishi.

In the under-16's event, France's Thomas Debierre and Micha Cantor of the US were in ominous form, winnings heats one and five respectively.

Guilherme Ribeiro of host nation Portugal also safely progressed from heat two with a total score of 12 points.

Competition is due to continue tomorrow morning from 8am local time where the girls competitions will begin before the boy's events resume in the afternoon.