The North Shore surfing season started yesterday with the running of the first day of the 22nd annual Xcel Pro.

The first round and half of the second round were completed in 4- to 8-foot waves at Sunset Beach.

Among yesterday's standouts were Hawai'i surfers Kahea Hart, Rainos Hayes, Jesse Merle-Jones, Tamayo Perry and Kawika Stillwell.

Merle-Jones was the top performer of the first round with a two-wave score of 15.0.

Australian surfers Corey Garcia and Josh Dowthwaite had the top scores of the second round. Garcia had a two-wave score of 15.75, and Dowthwaite had a two-wave total of 15.25.

Amateur surfer Chaz Chidester of O'ahu's North Shore showed up late for his first-round heat because he said he got stuck in traffic, but he still managed to advance.

By the time he checked in with contest officials, there was only 15 minutes remaining in his 25-minute heat. Chidester was allowed to finish the heat, and he advanced by catching two decent waves in the final 10 minutes.

The top seeds in the contest received byes yesterday. Among the top seeds are Hawai'i surfers Jamie O'Brien, Myles Padaca and Joel Centeio.

Around 150 surfers from around the world are entered in the three-day event.

The Xcel Pro is considered the kick-off event for the famous North Shore surfing season. The Vans Triple Crown of Surfing will follow the Xcel Pro.

The contest will continue today at Sunset Beach, conditions permitting. For updated information, call 596-7873 or visit xcelwetsuits.com.

TWO HAWAI'I SURFERS EARN ROXY PRO SPOTS

Tory Titcomb of Honolulu and Chastity Baltazar of Makaha won the Roxy Pro Trials contest Saturday in 1- to 2-foot waves at Ma'ili Point.

As the top surfers from the trials, Titcomb and Baltazar will get to compete in the Roxy Pro at Hale'iwa Ali'i Beach, Nov. 12 to 24. The rest of the field will be made up of the top 16-ranked female surfers in the world.

MEN'S WORLD TOUR IS IN BRAZIL THIS WEEK

Three-time defending world champion Andy Irons of Kaua'i will compete in the Nova Schin Festival at Florianopolis, Brazil, this week.

Irons and Florida's Kelly Slater are the only surfers in contention for the 2005 world championship.

The holding period for the event begins today and ends Nov. 9.