The fourth round was completed in 4- to 6-foot waves before officials halted the action for the day. Waves are expected to rise on Wednesday, so officials are hoping to run the final day of competition in bigger surf.

"The surf is on the decline and even though there still are some good sets, the intervals are getting longer," said Randy Rarick, executive director of the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing. "So rather than finish in a diminishing swell, I rather take the chance and get a new swell on the upswing. It will be much more exciting if it gets bigger for the final rather than smaller."

After Tuesday's heats, 16 surfers advanced to the final day of competition.The quarterfinals, semifinals and final will run Wednesday at Sunset Beach.

The O'Neill World Cup of Surfing is the second of three contests in the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing.

Kaua'i's Andy Irons was one of five Hawai'i surfers advancing to the quarterfinals. Irons won his fourth-round heat with a two-wave score of 13.0 to maintain his lead in the overall Triple Crown standings. Irons is the defending Triple Crown champion, and won the first event of this year's Triple Crown last month at Hale'iwa Ali'i Beach.

The other Hawai'i surfers advancing to the quarterfinals were Fred Patacchia Jr., Ian Walsh, Pancho Sullivan and Dustin Cuizon.

Current world champion Kelly Slater of Florida also advanced through his fourth round heat.