It's been nearly two decades since Ryan Sugihara and his father, Craig, celebrated surf victories on the same day.

That changed yesterday when the Sugiharas won titles at China Uemura's 22nd Annual Longboard Surfing Classic.

The four-day event was completed yesterday in 3- to 4-foot waves at Queen's, Kuhio Beach, Waikiki.

"When I was about nine years old, we both won at the same time," said Ryan Sugihara, 28, who won the men's 18-29 division. "It's been a long time."

"Hopefully he can win more and carry the torch," said Craig Sugihara, 60, who won the legends 60-plus division. "One day I'll be too old."

The contest — organized by former national longboard champion China Uemura — featured nearly 500 competitors from Japan, Brazil, France, Ireland, Florida, South Africa and Hawai'i.

Competitors rode surfboards at least 9 feet long.

"The contest had such good waves," said Craig Sugihara, who runs the Town & Country Surf Shop. "We got our money's worth."

It was a surprise victory for Ryan Sugihara, who normally rides shortboards. He started practicing longboarding last week, and won using multifin boards shaped by Greg Griffin.

"My boards were unreal," Sugihara said.

His father also rode a special longboard.

"The board that I won on was designed by me on the computer," he said. "I'm learning, but it worked."

In addition to the Sugiharas, the Moniz family — led by Kelia, Isaiah, Joshua and Seth — also performed well.

Kelia won the menehune girls 13 and under division. Her younger brothers surfed in the menehune boys 13 and under division. Isaiah won the title, Joshua placed second and Seth took fifth.

"It's cool because we get our names out there," Kelia Moniz said. "And it's cool because we can all do it together, surf together."

For the first time, the contest was expanded from three days to four to accommodate special events, such as the Russ-K Cup, which was part of the Japan Professional Surfing Association's 2006 tour.

"I think this is the biggest and most successful event out of the 22 years," Uemura said. "The Japanese Professional Surfing Association came over, and we shared our aloha with them."

Mimi Horiuchi called the contest a big hit with the Japanese. Horiuchi won the foreign residence final.

"I started the contest in 2003 in Hawai'i," said Horiuchi, who attends the University of Hawai'i. "At that time I was the only Japanese competing all the time. Now I see more people competing.

"Lately, in the last two or three years, surfing is getting really popular in Japan," she added. "In Japan, a lot of the celebrities have started surfing."

In a tribute to his Japanese guests, Uemura set up a spot where his visitors could surf the Queen's break for the final 30 minutes.

Other division winners were: Kaleo Cajigal (boys 14-17), Ashley Smeltzer (girls 14-17), Geodee Clark (women), Zane Aikau (master 30-39), Alika Willis (senior men 40-49), Glenn Rayno (grandmaster 50-59), Robert Fernandez (235 pounds and over), Dyanne Taylor (grandmaster women 50-plus).

Reach Brandon Masuoka at bmasuoka@honoluluadvertiser.com.