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New Zealand’s two surfers found the going tough when competition got under way in Tahiti.
Billy Stairmand finished third in his heat with a total of 5.53 points. His best wave earned him 3.33 points. Stairmand, 34, will now face Brazilian Filipe Toledo in round 2. The Raglan surfer finished ninth of 20 competitors at the Tokyo Olympics three years ago.
Gisborne’s Saffi Vette, in her first Olympics, finished second in her heat with a total of 7.50 points, bolstered by a best wave score of 4.73. Vette, 22, moves to round 2, where she meets Portugal’s Yolanda Hopkins.
The New Zealanders need to win their second round contests to remain in the competition.