Professional longboarding contests might be on a decline, but Duane DeSoto continues to rise.

DeSoto won the 12th annual Quiksilver Makahiki Games longboard surfing contest for the third consecutive year yesterday at Makaha Beach.

"I love Makaha; I love this wave," said DeSoto, 28. "The waves were really inconsistent, but I definitely knew what I was looking for. I just felt like I was in a good rhythm all day."

Approximately 60 of the state's top longboard surfers competed. Waves were in the 2- to 4-foot range throughout the day.

As the defending champion, DeSoto received a bye into the semifinals.

"It's an advantage," he said. "I came down early and watched everybody else, and watched what the waves were doing. Then I practiced a little bit ... and I got a little jog in to warm up my legs."

It was also an advantage that DeSoto grew up surfing at Makaha.

"Obviously, I know this place," he said. "But it still takes some luck. I got a few good waves to come my way."

In the final, DeSoto consistently mixed powerful cutbacks with smooth noserides on each of his waves. His two best rides received scores of 9.0 (out of 10) and 8.75 for a total of 17.75.

In the semifinals, he scored a perfect 10 for a barrel ride.

Another Makaha surfer, Rusty Keaulana, was a close second for the second consecutive year. His two best rides in the final received scores of 8.0 and 7.5 for a total of 15.5.

"I was just enjoying myself out there with the young boys," said Keaulana, 39. "You had to be in the right place at the right time to get the waves today."

Ned Snow placed third and Keegan Edwards was fourth.

"The best guys are right here in Hawai'i and (DeSoto and Keaulana) know this place better than anybody, so I was happy just to be in the final with them," Snow said.

Yesterday's contest offered a rare opportunity for longboard surfers to compete for prize money. In 2005, the world championship event for longboard surfing was canceled, as was a longboard summer series in Hawai'i.

A world championship event for 2006 still has not been finalized.

"This is like a low point for longboarding," said DeSoto, who received $1,500 for his victory. "We had a great run a couple years back, but we just hit a dry spell now. Hopefully it turns into a blessing in disguise and some sponsors step up to help out the sport."

Keaulana, who won three longboarding world championships in the 1990s, said: "We thought we had it hard back then because we only had a couple of contests to enter. Now, these guys don't have anything. It's hard because there's a lot of talent and I'd like to see one of the young guys bring the title back to Hawai'i."

The Quiksilver Makahiki Games will continue today at Makaha with canoe-surfing and tandem-surfing divisions.

FINAL RESULTS

1, Duane DeSoto, $1,500. 2, Rusty Keaulana, $750. 3, Ned Snow, $350. 4, Keegan Edwards, $250. 5 (tie), Kekoa Auwae and Kai Sallas, $200. 7 (tie), Kekoa Uemura and Kamu Auwae, $100.

Reach Dayton Morinaga at dmorinaga@honoluluadvertiser.com.