By the normally high standards of the Banzai Pipeline, yesterday was not a special day for waves.

As a result, Hawai'i's "Pipeline Specialists" struggled during the third round of the Billabong Pipeline Masters men's surfing contest yesterday.

Wave-face heights ranged from 6 to 10 feet, but strong sideshore winds shut down most of the famous barreling waves at the Pipeline.

"The Pipe Specialists probably don't surf on a day when it's like this," Australia's Phillip MacDonald said. "With the conditions being the way it is today, there was a bit of luck involved out there. Pipe's not working like it usually does."

The third round was completed, but the contest was postponed at mid-day due to the deteriorating conditions.

Kaua'i's Andy Irons, the two-time defending champion of the Pipeline Masters, agreed with the decision to postpone. He was scheduled to surf in the first heat of the fourth round.

"It's really windy, and we have some days left, so it's a good call," Irons said. "Today it's coming down to whoever got the one good wave in the heat won it."

Irons received a bye in the third round, but he watched several other Hawai'i surfers get eliminated in yesterday's challenging conditions.

Because of the unique wave at Pipeline, 16 specialists were invited to compete against the world tour competitors in the Billabong Pipeline Masters. On Thursday, the specialists won 12 of their 16 heats.

Yesterday, nine of the 12 remaining specialists were eliminated.

The only three specialists to advance were Ian Walsh of Maui, and North Shore surfers Gavin Beschen and Mikala Jones.

"There were some unlucky losses," Walsh said. "But not to take away anything from the guys who won because you still have to surf good out here to win, no matter who you are."

Walsh is scheduled to face 2007 world champion Mick Fanning of Australia in the fourth round.

"I just hope the waves come up and we both get equal opportunities to surf good waves," Walsh said. "I want to carry the banner for Maui, for all the other Pipe (specialists), for Hawai'i."

Among the specialists eliminated were Roy Powers and Makuakai Rothman. They were the top Hawai'i contenders in the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing series.

North Shore surfers Fred Patacchia Jr. and T.J. Barron won their third round heats yesterday. Patacchia is a world tour surfer, and Barron was invited to the event on a sponsor's exemption.

Patacchia defeated the top-ranked specialist, Jamie O'Brien.

"It wasn't pretty, but it worked," Patacchia said. "It's a bummer I had to go up against one of my good friends and hold him off the way I did, but that's the way competition is sometimes."

Also eliminated yesterday was Australia's Mark Occhilupo. The 1999 world champion said he will retire from the world tour. "Occy" won the Pipeline Masters in 1985, when he was 19.

There are 32 surfers remaining in the contest, which needs one more full day of competition to crown a champion.

Reach Dayton Morinaga at dmorinaga@honoluluadvertiser.com.

Make a difference. Donate to The Advertiser Christmas Fund.