When the sport of stand-up paddle surfing was revived around three years ago after 30 years of dormancy, Bonga Perkins already had a head start.

Perkins proved his worth by winning the C4 Waterman/Honolua Surf Co. Stand-up Paddle Surfing Invitational yesterday at Kuhio Beach, Waikiki.

Perkins said he first tried stand-up paddle surfing when he was a child growing up in Waikiki. He would help the Waikiki Beachboys take photographs of the tourists surfing.

So ...

"When this (sport) came around and started having a resurgence, it was duck soup, too easy," said Perkins, 35.

But it also helps that Perkins is a champion waterman.

The sport combines longboard surfing and paddling, and Perkins is best known as a former world champion of longboard surfing. He is also an experienced canoe paddler, but said he makes sure to practice stand-up paddle surfing at least once a week.

"In front of my house (at Hale'iwa) there's a bunch of waves and nobody out, so at least once a week for sure," he said.

He said the paddle is "an extension of my hand, and to have a board that is just a foot longer than my competition (longboard), it makes sense to me."

Perkins received a total score of 117.6 for his four best waves in yesterday's six-man final (the maximum score for one wave was 40).

Maui's Noah Shimabukuro was second with 112.1, followed in order by Dave Parmenter (103.9), Alika Willis (102.5), Kalani Vierra (93.3), and Titus Kinimaka (75.1).

"That paddle can turn that big board so quick, it was a toss up," Perkins said. "And we had a lot of waves, so that was awesome."

This was the first year that stand-up paddle surfing was part of the Duke's OceanFest.

"A lot of people might say this is a fad or a trend, but there's a lot of people doing it," Perkins said. "You can do it in lakes, rivers, streams ... just about any place with a water way.

"I think it's going to be here for a while. I don't see it fading out anytime soon."

Perkins was also part of the Quiksilver team that won the Hawaiian Airlines Duke's Legends Surf Classic. The team captain was Titus Kinimaka.

Oceanic, led by Jock Sutherland, placed second.

Reach Dayton Morinaga at dmorinaga@honoluluadvertiser.com.