With a late charge in a contest last weekend, Waikiki's Kai Sallas is making a late charge in the Steinlager Shaka Longboard Series.

Sallas won the fourth event in the series last weekend at Ala Moana Bowls.

Despite not catching any waves for the first 10 minutes of the 20-minute heat, Sallas won the final with a late flurry of three waves.

"It was a weird final because I didn't hear the horn to start it," he said. "I just sat there for the first 10 minutes, and then the water patrol (lifeguard) said the clock was running. I was super (mad), but I just scrambled after that and got lucky with a couple of good ones."

Most of the state's top professional longboard surfers participated in the contest.

It was the fourth of five stops on the 2008 Steinlager Series. Sallas has won the last two, and is now in contention for the overall championship.

Sallas is ranked No. 3 on the 2008 series, even though he missed one contest.

The final event is scheduled for mid-September at either Hale'iwa Ali'i Beach or Kuhio Beach.

Sallas is also a contender in the California-based Professional Longboard Association tour, so he may have to choose between the two in September.

"There could be a conflict, depending on when they run," he said. "So we'll just wait and see what happens. I want to do both, but if they go on the same weekend, I'll probably go to California."

Kamu Auwae of Nanakuli placed fourth last weekend, and is ranked No. 1 in the 2008 Steinlager Series. He has made the final in three of the four contests in the series.

Duane DeSoto of 'Ewa placed second last weekend, and is ranked No. 2 overall.

Most of the longboard pros also entered the stand-up paddle (SUP) surfing division.

Kekoa Uemura of Honolulu won the SUP division; Sallas placed fourth.

It was the second consecutive contest that Sallas reached the final for both the longboard pro-am and SUP divisions. Last month, Sallas became the first competitor to win the longboard pro-am and SUP divisions on the same day.

"I was going for it again," he said. "It's tough, going back-to-back heats like that all day. But it's fun, too."

WOMEN'S CONTEST COMING UP NEXT WEEK

The inaugural Girls Who Surf Pro-Am contest is scheduled to run Aug. 16 and 17 at Kewalo Basin.

The highlight of the contest will be a junior pro division for girls age 21 and younger. It will be sanctioned by the Association of Surfing Professionals.

There will also be separate divisions for professionals, amateurs and novice surfers. For information visit www.girlswhosurf.com.