The world's best surfers will be in California next week for the Boost Mobile Pro at Lower Trestles.

It will be the seventh of 11 stops on the 2006 World Championship Tour.

Six Hawai'i surfers are in the contest: Andy Irons, Bruce Irons, Jamie O'Brien, Fred Patacchia Jr., Roy Powers and Pancho Sullivan.

O'Brien was invited as a wildcard entry, and the other five Hawai'i surfers are among the 44 on the elite World Championship Tour.

Through the first six contests of the year, Florida's Kelly Slater is ranked No. 1 with 5,109 points. Slater is seeking an unprecedented eighth world championship.

Australia's Taj Burrow is ranked No. 2 with 4,682 points, and Andy Irons is No. 3 with 4,365. Among the other Hawai'i surfers, Bruce Irons is No. 12, Sullivan is No. 21, Patacchia is No. 25, and Powers is No. 41.

THREE EVENTS REMAIN ON WOMEN'S TOUR

With only three events remaining for 2006, the women's World Championship Tour is on a one-month break.

The next women's contest is the Havaianas Beachley Classic, Oct. 9 to 15 at Sydney, Australia. The final two contests of the year will be in Hawai'i — one at Sunset Beach and one at Honolua Bay, Maui.

Through five of eight events, three Australians have dominated the top of the rankings. Melanie Redman-Carr is No. 1 with 4,752 points, Layne Beachley is No. 2 with 4,452, and defending world champ Chelsea Georgeson is No. 3 with 4,044.

Among the Hawai'i surfers, Rochelle Ballard is No. 10, and Megan Abubo and Keala Kennelly are tied at No. 12.

TWO AMATEUR EVENTS SET FOR THIS WEEKEND

Amateur surfers looking for competition can choose between two events on two different islands this weekend.

The Hawai'i Amateur Surfing Association is scheduled to run a contest at Ala Moana Beach Park tomorrow and Sunday.

The Hawai'i region of the National Scholastic Surfing Association is also scheduled to run a contest this weekend at Lahaina Harbor, Maui.

For entry information visit www.hasasurf.org or www.nssahawaii.org.