In spectacular waves at Teahupoo, Tahiti, Jamie O'Brien of O'ahu's North Shore won the Air Tahiti Nui Von Zipper Trials contest in spectacular fashion this week.

O'Brien defeated Brazil's Bruno Santos in the final with a perfect 10 score in the closing seconds.

"I've never come from behind the 8-ball like that in the last minute," O'Brien said. "I figured it's the kind of stuff Kelly (Slater) does, so I thought I would give it a try."

The final day of the three-day contest was run in 6- to 8-foot barreling waves at Teahupoo. O'Brien scored two perfect 10s during the final day of competition. He also received a 10 for a long barrel ride in the quarterfinals.

The first two days of the contest were also run in big, barreling waves.

"I knew the swell was going to be bombing when I came down here ... so the whole event was super special," O'Brien said.

The contest featured more than 60 surfers from around the world, including eight from Hawai'i.

Among other Hawai'i surfers, Danny Fuller, Stephane Koehne and Kalani Chapman were eliminated in the quarterfinals.

As the winner of the trials contest, O'Brien received an entry into the prestigious Billabong Pro Tahiti contest next week at Teahupoo.

The Billabong Pro Tahiti will feature the world's top-45 ranked surfers, including Hawai'i surfers Andy Irons, Bruce Irons, Fred Patacchia Jr., Roy Powers and Pancho Sullivan.

GARCIA TRYING TO REQUALIFY FOR TOUR

Wai'anae's Sunny Garcia tied for fifth place at the O'Neill Highland Open this week at Thurso, Scotland.

Garcia, a former world champion, is competing on the 2008 World Qualifying Series in an attempt to requalify for the 2009 World Championship Tour.

"I feel like it is makeable for me right now," said Garcia, 38. "I know it's not going to be easy, but I am going to train ... I will be more prepared for the smaller waves."

Garcia won the world title in 2000, and was on the World Championship Tour from 1986 through 2005.

In 2006, he spent three months in a federal prison for a tax-evasion conviction related to his prize money from surfing.

Garcia is currently ranked No. 11 on the 2008 World Qualifying Series. The top 16 at the end of the year get promoted to the World Championship Tour.