The top eight teams from the 2015 competition fielded a team of five surfers with each competitor catching two waves in the hour long heat, with their individual scores adding up to a collective team total.

In the first semi-final Costa Rica and Japan both easily progressed to the final tomorrow.

Costa Rica won the contest with a combined score of 41.18 points, with Japan finishing second on 40.34.

The United States and Australia were both eliminated after finishing third and fourth respectively.

In the second semi final, Hawaii breezed through with a score of 39.10 points.

In second place were Frances 34.78 point, meaning they reached the final.

On another busy day in the individual competitions, the girl's under-18 tournament reached it's main event third round stage.

Spain's Ariane Otxoa leads the field with the highest score of 11.43 points to emerge from heat 28 to qualify for round four.

Hawaii's Brisa Hennessy maintained her ominous form as she also advanced.

The 17-year old, born in Costa Rica but who represents Hawaii, was the highest scorer from the previous round and also easily advanced with a total of 11 points. 

Caroline Marks set the girls' under-16 competition alight with a stunning performance of 17.84 points.

The 14-year-old from Florida dominated her heat with her nearest competitor finishing 10 points adrift.

New Zealand's Elin Tawharu and Japan's Minami Nonaka also progressed into the fourth round with respective scores of 11.86 and 12 points.

It was announced today by the ISA that the remainder of the competition will be carried live on the Olympic Channel tomorrow and Sunday (September 26), starting at 9am local time.

All the action from the climax of the event in the Azores will be streamed to a worldwide audience on the recently launched service using the ISA webcast live feed.

"I am delighted that the 2016 VISSLA ISA World Junior Championship will be made available on the Olympic Channel through to the finals of the competition this weekend," said ISA President Fernando Aguerre.

"This is a great opportunity for surfing to continue to widen its reach and exposure, win new fans and of course makes real our commitment to support this new initiative from the IOC.

"The ISA is also in discussions with the Channel about how to further enhance and promote Surfing for future ISA events."