The Association of Surfing Professionals 2008 World Championship Tour is scheduled to start this weekend in Australia.

The men's tour will feature 11 events in 2008, starting with the Quiksilver Pro off the Gold Coast of Queensland, Australia. The holding period for the first event will start tomorrow and run through March 5.

The men's tour will also make stops in Tahiti, Fiji, South Africa, France, Spain, Brazil, California and Hawai'i.

The tour finale is the Billabong Pipeline Masters off O'ahu's North Shore, Dec. 8 to 20. That will be the only Hawai'i contest on the men's WCT.

The men's WCT is restricted to 45 of the world's best surfers. Australia's Mick Fanning is the defending champion.

"I think the 2008 tour will be extra exciting," Fanning said. "With all the new rookies and the usual suspects, I think everyone will turn it up another notch."

Hawai'i surfers on the 2008 tour are Andy Irons, Bruce Irons, Roy Powers, Fred Patacchia Jr. and Pancho Sullivan.

The Irons brothers and Powers are all from Kaua'i; Patacchia and Sullivan are from O'ahu's North Shore.

Andy Irons won the world title in 2002, '03 and '04, and finished No. 6 last year.

Sullivan finished No. 7 last year.

Florida's Kelly Slater, who owns a record eight world titles, said he may not compete in all the WCT events in 2008.

"I'm sure Mick is going to be hungry to back up his title, the new guys will be hungry to make a statement, Andy (Irons) is going to be hungry to find his place again," Slater said. "And as for me ... I don't think I'll do a full year on the tour, so I'm just going to have some fun."

WOMEN'S TOUR ALSO TO START THIS WEEKEND

The 2008 women's World Championship Tour will also begin this weekend off the Gold Coast of Queensland, Australia.

The Roxy Pro will be the first of eight stops on the women's tour.

Two Hawai'i events are on the women's tour — the Roxy Pro at Sunset Beach (Nov. 24 to Dec. 6) and the Billabong Pro at Honolua Bay, Maui (Dec. 8 to 20).

Australia's Stephanie Gilmore made history last year, becoming the first rookie to win the world championship.

"I've just been relaxing a lot and I suppose I am still taking it all in from last year's win," she said. "I'm pretty confident heading into the Roxy Pro as it's right here at home."

Melanie Bartels of Wai'anae and Megan Abubo of Waialua are the only Hawai'i surfers on the women's tour. The women's tour is restricted to 17 competitors.

For more information on the men's and women's tours, visit aspworldtour.com.

32ND BUFFALO'S CLASSIC WRAPS UP THIS WEEKEND

The 32nd annual Buffalo's Big Board Surfing Classic is scheduled to run tomorrow and Sunday at Makaha Beach.

The event started last weekend, and will conclude this weekend with competition in various divisions.