Action continued in Biarritz today ©ISA

France’s Justine Dupont produced an impressive performance in the women's heats as Brazil's world silver medallist Chloe Calmon was consigned to the repechage round at the World Longboard Surfing Championship in Biarritz.

Dupont finished top of the standings on 11.44 points as she continued her strong start to the event at Côte des Basques.

Calmon, silver medallist in Nanning last year, was unable to locate high scoring waves and was relegated to the repechage, making her path to the final considerably more difficult.

Natsumi Taoka of Japan, who claimed the copper medal in China, was the second-best performer as she scored 11.04.

American Lindsay Steinriede was among the other surfers to progress to the main round.

In the men's event, Jonathan Melendres of Mexico defied the tricky conditions to score 11.80 and avoid elimination.

Jonathan Melendres of Mexico was among the star performers in the men's event ©ISA
Jonathan Melendres of Mexico was among the star performers in the men's event ©ISA

Belgium’s Sascha Borrey and Canada’s Christian Thomson also kept their medal hopes alive with solid performances.

"The repechage rounds are signature mark of an International Surfing Association (ISA) World Championship," said ISA President Fernando Aguerre.

"Even the best surfers can have a bad day, so we give them a second chance to redeem themselves and continue in the event.

“I’ve seen dozens of surfers earn the gold medal via the elimination repechage rounds, which have produced some of the most memorable, gutsy performances."

The action continues tomorrow.