Andy Irons was not quite in world championship form yesterday.

That's excusable, considering he's been on a sabbatical from surfing's world tour this year.

But his competitive restart came yesterday at, appropriately enough, the 26th annual Xcel Pro at Sunset Beach.

The Xcel Pro has long been considered a starting point for future stardom for Hawai'i surfers — Irons won it in 1997 when he was 19.

It is also considered the kickoff event for the famous North Shore surfing season.

Irons, a three-time former world champion for Kaua'i, advanced through his second round heat yesterday in vintage Irons fashion. He caught a wave in the closing seconds of his heat and scored just enough points to remain in the contest.

"It feels refreshing, exciting to put a (contest) jersey on again," Irons said. "I didn't think I made it through that heat. I had to catch that really small (wave) at the end and I guess it worked."

Many surfers described yesterday's conditions as "tricky." Wave-face heights were around 6 feet in the morning, but built to the 10- to 15-foot range by afternoon.

The surging swell made it difficult for the surfers to track proper position.

"I was paddling all over the place — it's so easy to get lost out there," Irons said. "It was a hard day, definitely. Happy just to make it through."

Waves are expected to be bigger and more consistent today. The final day of the Xcel Pro is expected to run today.

Irons said he will return to the world tour in 2010, so he is using the Xcel Pro and the ensuing Vans Triple Crown of Surfing as his "warm up."

"I need all the practice I can get," he said. "Hopefully I can do well here and then in the Triple Crown and take it into the tour next year."

Defending Xcel Pro champion Pancho Sullivan was in impressive form in winning his second round heat yesterday. Sullivan is an experienced Sunset Beach surfer, but even he had a difficult time figuring out yesterday's conditions.

"Your normal lineup is out the window on a day like this," he said. "You kind of have to find your own rhythm. I didn't feel like I surfed very well, but I did enough to get through and that was my goal for the day. I wanted to make it to (today) when the surf is pumping and we get to compete at real Sunset."

The Xcel Pro is traditionally a three-day contest, but it was downsized to two days this year due to a permitting issue. Around 50 surfers were left off the entry list due to the reduction.

"It's unfortunate that an event with a 25-year history that's run by a company with local roots was not able to get a full permit," Sullivan said. "But I think the prestige is still there. You have world champions here. Look at the heat draw and it's stacked. This will always be a special event leading to the Triple Crown."

Joel Centeio of Makakilo even reworked his flight schedule to enter this year's Xcel Pro. He was originally scheduled to depart for California yesterday for another contest, but he changed the ticket once he found out the Xcel Pro was on this weekend.

"The contest in Santa Cruz has more (tour) points, so I have to go there," Centeio said. "But when they told me they could finish the Xcel by (today), I wanted to be in it."

Centeio, who won the Xcel Pro in 2007, advanced through two heats yesterday.

Another standout yesterday included Makuakai Rothman, who had the best wave of the day — a 9.8 (out of 10).

Other notable surfers advancing yesterday were former world champions Sunny Garcia and Derek Ho, and former Xcel Pro champs Kaipo Jaquias, Evan Valiere and Gavin Beschen.

For contest updates, visit www.xcelpro.xcelwetsuits.com.