Kai Sallas of Honolulu might not be the new longboard world champion, but he beat the new world champion to win the Oxbow ASP World Longboard Tour Maldives contest yesterday.

The final day of the prestigious contest was run in 2- to 3-foot waves at Pasta Point, Chaaya Island, Maldives.

Sallas defeated Australia's Harley Ingleby, 15.65-14.0, in the final. Only a few hours earlier, Ingleby clinched the 2009 world championship by winning his quarterfinal heat.

"I'm so stoked to win this event," said Sallas, 28. "The waves have been super fun all week and to beat Harley in the final capped off a perfect week for me ... it's great to win and actually beat the current world champion as well."

The Maldives contest was the final stop on the 2009 ASP World Longboard Tour. Sallas finished the year ranked No. 2.

He won three heats yesterday to claim the $10,000 first-place check.

Sallas defeated Ned Snow of the Big Island in the semifinals, 14.5-13.45.

Sallas opened the final heat with a 7.75 ride and never relinquished the lead. He clinched the win in the closing minutes with a 7.9 (out of 10).

"I started well with 7.75 on my first ride and felt confident I could back that ride up and take the win," Sallas said. "Ingleby came at me hard in the final few minutes, but my best ride was my final one."

Ingleby clinched the 2009 world title after he defeated Brazil's Phil Rajzman in the quarterfinals.

"It would have been great to take the event as well as the world title, but full marks to Sallas," Ingleby said. "He surfed a great final and he deserved the win as he's been a standout all week."

Four Hawaii surfers finished in the top 10 of the final 2009 ratings. In addition to Sallas at No. 2, 2008 world champion Bonga Perkins of Haleiwa is No. 5, Snow is No. 6, and Duane DeSoto of Ewa is No. 8.

TOUR ROOKIE HO WINS

Coco Ho of Sunset Beach surfed beyond her years to beat her peers in the Rip Curl Women's Pro Search contest yesterday.

The final day of the event was run in 2- to 3-foot waves at Belgas, Peniche, Portugal.

Ho is in her rookie season on the ASP Women's World Tour, and yesterday was her first victory. She is 18 and the youngest competitor on the women's tour.

"It feels so good to be on top," Ho said. "I'm trying not to think about it too much. When I started the year, I set a goal to make quarterfinals or better at every event in order to finish in the top five by the end of the year, and I'm doing my best to accomplish that."

So far, she's doing better.

Ho is now ranked No. 3 in the world.

She won four heats yesterday, including wins over two former world champions. She beat 2004 world champ Sofia Mulanovich of Peru in the quarterfinals, then beat 2005 world champ Chelsea Hedges of Australia in the final.

Ho won the final in convincing fashion, beating Hedges by a score of 15.83-9.87.

"I knew Chelsea would be dangerous on the left after seeing her this morning getting those barrels," said Ho, who won $12,000. "This afternoon it turned into a more rippable wave and ... I was lucky to get the waves I did."

The contest was the fourth of seven stops on the 2009 women's tour, so Ho still has an outside shot at the world title.

Defending champion Stephanie Gilmore of Australia is No. 1, and Brazil's Silvana Lima is No. 2.

Waianae's Melanie Bartels was eliminated in the quarterfinals and is ranked No. 5 overall.