Hawaii surfers Kai Sallas and Ned Snow advanced to the quarterfinals, and defending world champion Bonga Perkins was eliminated yesterday at the Oxbow ASP World Longboard Tour Maldives contest.

The second round was run in 3- to 4-foot waves at Pasta Point, Chaaya Island, Maldives.

Sallas defeated former world champion Colin McPhillips of California, 12.5-11.25, and Snow defeated California's Troy Mothershead, 14.75-7.5.

Perkins, who was the No. 1 seed for the contest, was upset by Ben Skinner of Great Britain, 13.5-12.3.

Snow is scheduled to face Skinner in the quarterfinals. Sallas will go against Brazil's Eduardo Bage.

The contest is the final stop on the 2009 ASP World Longboard Tour, so the world champion will be determined on the final day. Perkins was the last Hawaii surfer with a shot at the 2009 world title.

Snow and Sallas are not in contention for the world title.

AUSTRALIA'S FANNING CLOSING ON TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP WITH PORTUGAL WIN

Mick Fanning of Australia moved one step closer to the 2009 ASP World Tour championship by winning the Rip Curl Pro Search men's contest yesterday at Belgas, Peniche, Portugal.

Fanning defeated fellow Australian Bede Durbidge in the final, 12.67-9.87.

No Hawaii surfer made it to the final day of competition.

With just one contest remaining on the 2009 ASP World Tour, Fanning has 7,140 points. Australia's Joel Parkinson is No. 2 with 6,772. They are the only two surfers in contention for the world title.

The championship will be decided at the Billabong Pipeline Masters in December.

Fred Patacchia Jr. of Oahu's North Shore is Hawaii's top-ranked surfer at No. 15.

BARTELS SCORES BIG AT RIP CURL WOMEN'S PRO SEARCH IN PORTUGAL

Melanie Bartels of Waianae had the highest scores on the opening day of the Rip Curl Women's Pro Search contest yesterday at Belgas, Peniche, Portugal.

Bartels received a two-wave score of 13.17, including an 8.0 (out of 10) in her first-round victory.

Fellow Hawaii surfer Coco Ho also won her first-round heat. As first-round winners, Bartels and Ho advanced directly to the third round.

Hawaii surfers Megan Abubo and Alana Blanchard did not win in the first round, and will have to compete in the second round.

XCEL PRO MEN'S CONTEST COULD START TOMORROW AT SUNSET BEACH

The holding period for the 26th annual Xcel Pro men's contest is scheduled to begin tomorrow at Sunset Beach.

The contest can run on the two days when conditions are favorable between tomorrow and Nov. 10.

The field of surfers includes defending champion Pancho Sullivan from Sunset Beach, and former world champions Andy Irons of Kauai and Sunny Garcia of Waianae.

For daily updates visit www.xcelpro.xcelwetsuits.com.