Hawai'i's Duane DeSoto placed second in the Oxbow WLT at Tahara longboard surfing contest today.

The final day of the contest was run in 2- to 3-foot waves at Tahara, Japan.

Harley Ingleby of Australia defeated DeSoto in the one-on-one final, 14.75-11.75. Ingleby received $10,000 and DeSoto $5,000.

"I lost track of my game plan out there," DeSoto said. "I'm stoked to have made the final and of course I wish I won, but it's a good result."

In the semifinals, DeSoto upset fellow Hawai'i competitor Bonga Perkins, 15.6-12.75. Perkins, the 2008 world champion, was the No. 1 seed for the contest.

"I had a heat with Duane and it's a bummer because he's my good friend," Perkins said. "But there's only one winner and he took me out."

The contest was the first of two that will determine the 2009 world champion of longboard surfing.

The next event is scheduled to run in October at the Maldives. The two contests will carry equal points, so DeSoto and Perkins are in solid contention for the 2009 world title.