Maui's Ian Walsh won the inaugural O'Neill's The Mission — The Ultimate Freesurf Challenge contest last weekend at Tahiti.

Walsh received $25,000 as the best overall performer from the week-long contest.

"I'm so psyched," Walsh said. "Just to surf with these guys all week was unreal. To win the whole thing, the money and all, is just icing on the cake."

Only eight surfers were invited to participate in the unique contest. Invitations went out to surfers who normally don't compete on the world tour.

There were no eliminations, and each surfer got to surf in six different sessions over the course of one week.

All the competitors stayed on a boat during the week so that they could travel to various surf spots around Tahiti.

HAMILTON COMPLETES EXTREME PEDAL/PADDLE

Hawai'i big-wave surfer Laird Hamilton completed a 265-mile trek from London to Paris this week to help raise awareness for autism.

Hamilton started on a bike in London and traveled 92 miles. He then used a stand-up paddleboard and crossed the English Channel in six hours.

After a few hours of sleep, Hamilton got on his bicycle again and rode for nearly nine hours to complete the final 146 miles.

"I felt physically and mentally good, except some pain in my left knee," he said. "I was very happy to be there and accomplish the goal I had set out to do. It confirmed to me that we could all do much more in life than we think we can."

Hamilton's friend — surf photographer Don King — has a son with autism. For information on the cause, visit www.beautifulson.com.

STATE CHAMPIONSHIP MEET STARTS TODAY

The Hawai'i Amateur Surfing Association State Championships will run this weekend at Ala Moana Bowls.

More than 300 surfers of various ages are expected to compete in the contest.

Preliminary heats will run today and tomorrow, with the finals set for Sunday.

The top finishers will earn spots in the USA Championships next month at Oceanside, Calif.