Billy Stairmand of New Zealand produced a superb performance in main round four at the World Surfing Games in El Salvador ©Getty Images

New Zealand’s Billy Stairmand outscored in-form Brazilian Gabriel Medina in main round four but both advanced to the next stage of the World Surfing Games at Surf City in El Salvador.

Stairmand posted scores of 8.07 and 7.00 points to finish on 15.07 to top heat two ahead of Medina who also progressed to round five after sealing second spot with 14.76.

Olympic silver medallist and defending world champion Kanoa Igarashi of Japan came out on top in heat six with 15.24 points, pushing South Africa’s Jordy Smith into second with 13.70.

One of the best performances of the day came from Peruvian Lucca Mesinas, who pulled off a superb backhand attack and a huge two-turn combination for 8.33 points.

Mesinas then scored 6.93 to finish on 15.26 in heat four, while Indonesia’s Rio Waida secured a top-two spot with 14.27.

There was also success for Peru in heat three as Miguel Tudela finished in first place with 14.50 points.

Argentina’s Leandro Usuna scored 13.47 points for second, forcing Italy’s Leonardo Fioravanti, who registered 13.14, to move into the repechage.

Mexico’s Alan Cleland top scored in round four with 16.20 points after notching 8.27 and 7.98 in heat five, while Israel’s Uri Uziel came second with 12.93.

"You surf for what the criteria is and just keep it going," said Cleland.

"Because sometimes you think you’ve got it but you don’t, so just pretty much surf out of your skin on every wave you get a chance to and do what you got to do."

Japan's Reo Inaba was the winner of heat one with 13.14 points as Canada’s Cody Young edged out Mexico's Sebastian Hernandez with 11.00 to move through to round five.

The men’s and women’s repechage contests also took place with American John John Florence coming through three heats after falling out of the main round on day two.

Repechage highlights were also delivered by Finland’s Eeli Timperi, Germany’s Lenni Jensen, El Salvador's Porfirio Miranda and Canada's Levi Young.

In the women’s repechage, Olympians Daniella Rosas of Peru and Anat Lelior of Israel starred, while Britain’s Vittoria Farmer collected the highest single wave score of the day with 8.33 points.

Competition is due to continue tomorrow with the women’s main round four and repechage round four.