Sutherland won the Town & Country/Surfer Magazine Air Invitational for the second consecutive year yesterday at Queen's, Waikiki Beach.

The unique contest requires surfers to complete aerial maneuvers while riding their surfboards. In essence, the surfers use the wave as a ramp to launch into the air. The higher and more creative the aerial maneuver, the better the score.

"It's way different from a normal contest," Sutherland said. "You do a lot more expressive maneuvers — just really going for it."

Sutherland really went for it by consistently completing 360-degree aerial spins above the 1- to 2-foot waves.

"That's like my go-to maneuver," he said. "A lot of the waves were too small and didn't have good sections to get up (in the air), but I kept trying. I knew that was going to be the way to get good scores."

Sure enough, Sutherland's best 360 spin was rewarded with an 8.83 score — the highest of the four-man final. He also had a score of 7.17 for a two-wave total of 16.0.

Jamie O'Brien was second with 12.83. He and Sutherland were the only surfers to complete more than one significant aerial maneuver during the final.

"It's a lot more difficult than it looks," said Sutherland. "Once you get in the air, it's really difficult to land back in the water and maintain your ride."

Sutherland also happens to be the most experienced at it. He is one of a handful of surfers who travels around the world to compete in aerial surfing contests.

"I like doing (regular surfing) contests, but these are just more fun," said Sutherland, who received $2,500 for the win.

O'Brien added: "This is more spectacular surfing. I like it because that's the kind of surfing I do anyway when I'm not in (regular) contests."

GAVIN SUTHERLAND

"Even if you lose in this contest, it's not so bad," Stillwell said. "Everybody is out there trying to do big airs, so nobody holds back. That's how it should be. But Gavin clearly won. I bow down to him."

Only 10 of Hawai'i's top young surfers were invited to compete. Sutherland, 27, was the oldest in the field. All the others were younger than 23.

The Town & Country Grom Contest, which is restricted to surfers ages 14 and younger, will continue today at Queen's.

Final results

1, Gavin Sutherland. 2, Jamie O'Brien. 3, Kawika Stillwell. 4, Dustin Cuizon. 5 (tie), Macy Mullen and Kekoa Bacalso. 7 (tie), Sean Moody, Joel Centeio and Fred Patacchia Jr. 10, Jason Shibata.

QUIKSILVER FIJI PRO

• Perfect 10 for Irons: World champion Andy Irons of Kaua'i advanced to the fourth round of the Quiksilver Fiji Pro yesterday in 5-foot waves at Cloudbreak, Tavarua, Fiji.

Irons trailed throughout most of his third-round heat against Australian Troy Brooks before posting a perfect 10 with six minutes remaining. It was enough for Irons to edge Brooks, 16.83-16.0.