The O'Neill World Cup of Surfing men's contest started out in big waves last week at Sunset Beach.

Over the weekend, it got bigger.

Yesterday, it was the biggest.

The fourth round was run in wave-face heights that ranged from 20 to 30 feet.

"This is as big for a contest that I've ever surfed," Maui's Ian Walsh said. "This contest will go down in history as one of the best ever. Who ever wins it will be special because we've had some pretty big stuff the last couple of days. You feel like you won something just to make it out of one heat."

Randy Rarick, executive director of the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing, said it may have been the biggest waves ever surfed for a contest at Sunset Beach.

"We've run in bigger stuff when we used to have events at Waimea Bay way back when," Rarick said. "But as far as Sunset, this is as big as it can possibly get and still be contestable."

Rarick said he even contemplated postponing the contest because the waves were getting too big, but the competitors were scoring impressive rides, so he kept it going all day.

Walsh, an experienced big-wave surfer, was one of the day's standouts. He had a two-wave score of 14.73, which included an 8.83 (out of 10) for some daring turns on one of the big waves.

"There are some really big, steep peaks, so you can really draw out your turns," Walsh said. "You don't really see the other competitors out there, so it's just you against the ocean trying to get two waves."

After winning his heat, Walsh struggled against the rip current and took nearly 30 minutes to return to the beach.

"It's insane," he said. "It's not scary, it's just so much work. There's so much rip (current) pulling around the corner, if you miss a wave, the next one is on your head. That part's not fun."

California's Patrick Gudauskas caught the wave of the day, receiving a near-perfect score of 9.67 for a giant barrel ride.

"I had one earlier in the heat that I tried to pull in and pretty much got murdered on," he said. "This one was really chunky and I just kind of snapped under it. I almost got clipped but I came out of it and was all smiles after that."

Gudauskas and his younger brother, Tanner, were in the same heat. Patrick advanced, Tanner didn't.

"Before the heat we were sitting on the beach saying this is the biggest surf we've seen in a contest other than maybe the (Quiksilver In Memory of Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational)," Gudauskas said. "I think any of those (big-wave) guys would be satisfied with the conditions right now."

Torrey Meister of the Big Island advanced to the fifth round despite feeling the wrath of the big waves. Two of his surfboards broke during his heat, and because he didn't have a third, he was forced to ride his father's old board for the last few minutes of the heat.

"That's what dads are for," said Meister, 20. "It's a 7-foot-6 old school (board) and I guess he used to charge on it. The next time I'll bring eight boards, maybe nine, to the beach.

"It's pretty much like a treadmill the whole time, constantly paddling, constantly getting pounded and trying to get out of the way. It's really challenging, and if you get one, you're stoked."

As more proof of the difficult conditions, several experienced Sunset Beach surfers were eliminated yesterday.

Love Hodel was not able to catch even one wave during his 30-minute heat.

Pancho Sullivan, who won the Xcel Pro at Sunset Beach last month, was eliminated after getting a two-wave score of just 6.23.

Sunny Garcia's best wave received a score of 9.0, but his second wave was a 2.17, so he was eliminated. Because of the loss, Garcia will not qualify for the 2009 World Championship Tour.

Makuakai Rothman, who won the O'Neill World Cup last year, was also eliminated.

Kekoa Bacalso, who was the Triple Crown leader at the start of the day, also lost.

Maui's Dusty Payne advanced through his heat, and is now in the overall lead of the Triple Crown ratings.

There are 32 surfers remaining for the final day of competition, and six are from Hawai'i: Payne, Walsh, Meister, Marcus Hickman, Hank Gaskell and Kamalei Alexander.

The Australian contingent leads the way with 16 surfers still in the contest, including Bede Durbidge, who won the Triple Crown championship last year.

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

One more day of competition is required to determine a champion for the O'Neill World Cup. The final day could run today, if conditions are favorable.

For updates call 596-7873 or visit www.triplecrownofsurfing.com.