Team Hawai'i is currently in third place heading into the final days of the Billabong ISA World Surfing Games at Costa Rica.

The contest started last weekend and the final two days are scheduled for today and tomorrow.

Australia and the United States are currently tied for first place.

Hawai'i is recognized as its own region for the contest because of its storied history in the sport.

Each country/region was allowed to enter eight surfers — four in men's open, two in women's open, and two in longboarding.

Hawai'i still has six surfers remaining: Joel Centeio and Hank Gaskell in men's open, Alessa Quizon and Nage Melamed in women's open, and Bonga Perkins and Kekoa Uemura in longboarding.

Gaskell, who is from Maui, has been one of the standouts in the men's open division. He has received scores of 9.17 (out of 10) and 8.67 in his early-round victories.

Perkins and Uemura also turned in strong performances in the early rounds of the longboard division.

Hawai'i surfers Tonino Benson and Roy Powers were eliminated earlier in the week from the men's open division.

The event is described as "an Olympics of surfing." More than 180 surfers representing 34 countries/regions are participating.'Sponsor Me Hawai'i' contest next week

The "Sponsor Me Hawai'i" surfing contest is scheduled to run between Aug. 15 and 22 at Ala Moana Bowls.

The event is open to amateur and professional surfers, and has been sanctioned as a 1-star World Qualifying Series contest.

In addition to earning points for the WQS, the top surfers from the contest can receive invitations to the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing.

The event is scheduled to be broadcast live via the Internet at www.surf.transworld.net.

For entry information, send an e-mail to asphi@hawaii.rr.com.

FREE OCEAN CLINICS AT WAIKIKI ON SUNDAY

The Na Kama Kai nonprofit organization will host free ocean awareness clinics on Sunday at Duke Kahanamoku Beach, Waikiki (behind Hilton Hawaiian Village).

Professional longboard surfer and expert waterman Duane DeSoto will be the lead instructor.

The clinics are designed to instill an ocean awareness in youths through various ocean sports. Families — including parents and grandparents — can also participate.

The clinics are scheduled to run hourly from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Registration will be accepted on Sunday. For more information, visit www.nakamakai.com