After four years of waiting for a longboard surfing circuit to return to Hawai'i, Duane DeSoto was more than happy to compete in small waves yesterday.

"The waves were small, but it was fun," DeSoto said. "The last four or five years, there were no doors open for the longboarders, so it's nice to get something like this started again."

DeSoto won the pro-am division of the Steinlager Shaka Longboard Series yesterday at the "Flies" break off Kaka'ako Waterfront Park.

It was the second of five events in the 2007 series, which is put on by Hawai'i Surfing Productions. A similar longboard circuit ran from 1997 to 2003.

"We needed this," DeSoto said. "What I really like is there's a forum now for the young longboarders. They get a chance to perform and show they deserve sponsors."

In addition to the pro-am division, the Steinlager Shaka Series features various age divisions for amateur surfers. More than 150 longboard surfers are expected to compete in the series.

Yesterday's heats took place in 1- to 2-foot waves.

"The wave here is actually better than it looks," DeSoto said. "I thought it was going to be flat, but there were some nice little sections — good turning spots."

DeSoto received scores of 8.0 and 7.0 for a total of 15 (out of 20) to win the four-man final and the $1,200 first-place check.

Ned Snow placed second with a two-wave score of 12. He received an 8.5 early in the heat, but could never find a good second wave.

"There were waves to catch, but you just had to be in the right place," Snow said. "Unfortunately, I only found one good one."

Kapono Nahina placed third and Geoff Wong was fourth. Isaac Kaneshiro — who won the first event of the series last month at Sunset Beach — tied for fifth with Ezra Rodrigues.

La'akea Davis of Waimanalo won the junior men's division for amateur surfers age 20 and younger. Many of the competitors in that division are considered future professionals.

"This is my first win," he said. "I'm going to try and do all the events (in the series). I get to watch the pros and learn from them — hopefully I can get there some day."

There are also amateur divisions for females, and Kailua's Ashley Quintal won the women's division yesterday for surfers age 20 to 39.

"There are a lot of girls who longboard, and I think it's still growing," she said. "It was definitely time to bring this series back."

More amateur heats will be run today at Kaka'ako Waterfront Park.

The next contest in the series is scheduled for June 30 and July 1 at Queen's Surf, Waikiki. For information, visit www.hspsurf.org.

Reach Dayton Morinaga at dmorinaga@honoluluadvertiser.com.