Jamie O'Brien, Andy Irons and Bruce Irons lead an all-star field for the 2008 Monster Energy Pipeline Pro men's surfing contest.

The three-day event has a holding period of Sunday to Feb. 6. Competition will run on the three days when conditions are favorable at the famous Banzai Pipeline during that holding period.

O'Brien, who grew up surfing at Pipeline, won the event last year. He also won the Da Hui Backdoor Shootout at Pipeline earlier this month in wave-face heights that ranged from 10 to 25 feet.

The Irons brothers from Kaua'i are also considered experts at surfing the treacherous Pipeline wave. Andy Irons, a three-time former world champion, has won several events at Pipeline, including the Pipeline Masters four times.

Bruce Irons is also a past Pipeline Masters champ, and placed a close second to O'Brien at the Backdoor Shootout.

Other standouts expected to enter include Rob Machado, T.J. Barron, Makuakai Rothman, Ian Walsh, Pancho Sullivan and Derek Ho.

More than 120 surfers from around the world are expected to enter.

The contest will be part of the World Qualifying Series, and the top performers can earn points toward qualifying for the 2009 World Championship Tour.

The top Hawai'i finishers from the Monster Energy Pipeline Pro will be dubbed "Pipeline Specialists," and earn invitations to the 2008 Pipeline Masters in December.

For daily status of the contest, visit www.billabongpro.com or call 638-7874.

BODYSURFING CONTEST ALSO COMING UP AT PIPE

The 36th Pipeline Bodysurfing Classic will share a holding period with the surfing contest.

The Bodysurfing Classic will run one day between Jan. 27 and Feb. 6 at the Banzai Pipeline. The event is making a return after being canceled in 2007 due to permitting issues.

Kailua's Steve Kapela won the contest in 2006, and is expected to enter this year, along with former champions Mark Cunningham and Mike Stewart.

FREEWAVE CHALLENGE FINALISTS ANNOUNCED

Four Hawai'i surfers are among the 10 final video clips for the inaugural Billabong Freewave Challenge.

The Hawai'i nominees for Best Performance Ride are Kalani Chapman and Jamie O'Brien (twice). The Hawai'i nominees for Best Tube Ride are Sunny Garcia and Garrett McNamara.

The Freewave Challenge is an Internet-based contest. Videos were submitted to the www.freewavechallenge.com Web site starting in October, and the finalists were determined by visitors voting on the site.

The winners will be announced in the first week of February. More than $40,000 will be awarded to the surfers and videographers.

MAKAHIKI CORRECTION

Makamae DeSoto placed fourth in the pro longboard division of the Makahiki Games last weekend at Makaha Beach. His name was omitted from results in Monday's Advertiser.