Brazil and Portugal don't have waves like this.

Surfers competing on the opening day of the Xcel Pro men's contest were greeted by 6- to 8-foot waves yesterday at Sunset Beach. The first round and 10 heats of the second round were completed yesterday.

"I just came back from Brazil four days ago, so it was fun just to surf in real waves again," said T.J. Barron, who was one of the standouts on opening day. "I'm used to surfing junk waves the whole year, so when I saw this, I knew it was going to be a good."

The Xcel Pro, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, is considered the kickoff event for the famous North Shore surfing season.

Several of the top-ranked surfers are not entered this year due to conflicting events in Brazil and Portugal.

Makakilo's Joel Centeio — the defending Xcel Pro champion — was in Portugal last week, but returned to O'ahu in time to enter the Xcel Pro.

Because of his late entry, Centeio was inserted into the first round as an alternate. Normally, he would have been seeded into the third round.

HE ADVANCED THROUGH BOTH HIS HEATS YESTERDAY

"It's OK, I did the same thing last year. I got in as an alternate and ended up winning it, so at least I know it's doable," Centeio said. "The wave here is always tricky and it's kind of stormy today, but it's still Sunset. This is so much better than what we get to surf on the rest of the tour."

The Xcel Pro is part of surfing's World Qualifying Series, so many surfers in the field are considered stars of the future.

Centeio, for example, was 24 when he won the Xcel Pro last year. He is currently ranked No. 45 on the WQS, and needs a strong showing during this North Shore season to qualify for the prestigious World Championship Tour in 2009.

"I'm definitely more confident this year from winning it last year," he said. "That's why I really wanted to come back and defend the title."

Barron, 23, also had to enter the Xcel Pro as an alternate, but managed to have two solid heats yesterday. In the first round, he received a two-wave total score of 14.0; in the second round, his two-wave score was 13.65.

Ezra Sitt of Sunset Beach relied on his local knowledge to win his second-round heat. Sitt, 26, lives across the street from the contest site.

"On a day like this, I'd be out there for fun," he said. "There's so many good surfers in this contest. But knowledge of this place really makes a difference, especially when it's messy like today."

Other young standouts from yesterday's heats included Kyle Ramey, Kai Barger, Kanoa Chung, Wesley Larsen and Tonino Benson.

The field also featured some veteran surfers, including former Xcel Pro champions Derek Ho and Kaipo Jaquias. Ho won it in 1994; Jaquias won it in 1993 and '95. They both advanced to the third round yesterday.

"I don't get to surf too much in competitions anymore, let alone at Sunset," Jaquias said. "So it's an honor for me just to be a part of it again."

Another veteran surfer, Sunny Garcia of Wai'anae, was eliminated in yesterday's second round. Garcia won the Xcel Pro in 1992.

The contest will continue today, conditions permitting.

Two more days of competition remain, and the holding period ends on Nov. 10. For information visit xcelwetsuits.com or call 596-7873.