The North Shore waves were up yesterday, and several Hawai'i surfers were up to the challenge.

The Hawai'i contingent utilized home-wave advantage to take the spotlight on the opening day of the Reef Hawaiian Pro men's contest.

The first round and half of the second round were completed in wave-face heights that ranged from 10 to 20 feet at Hale'iwa Ali'i Beach.

"This is as good as it gets for Hale'iwa," Maui's Hank Gaskell said. "When it's like this, it's pretty much my dream wave."

Gaskell had a dream heat, posting a two-wave score of 17.17 (out of 20) to advance through the first round.

"I tried to surf here early this morning before the contest started, and it was so crowded," said Gaskell, 22. "I got like three waves in an hour. So to be out there with only three guys out was a treat in itself. I was just trying to have fun with it."

The Reef Hawaiian Pro is the first event in the 26th annual Vans Triple Crown of Surfing.

"This is the best Hale'iwa we've had in a long time," said Randy Rarick, executive director of the Triple Crown. "The locals definitely have the advantage when the conditions are like this, and I think it shows in the results."

The proof was in the statistics. Of the 10 top scoring heats of the day, eight belonged to Hawai'i surfers.

Kaua'i's Sebastian Zietz had the best heat of the day, a two-wave score of 18.27. Gaskell's 17.17 was second-best.

Chas Chidester of O'ahu's North Shore had the best single wave of the day, a 9.67 out of 10, and finished with a two-wave total of 16.34.

Each surfer could catch up to 15 waves in a heat, but only the best two counted toward the final score.

Other standouts from Hawai'i included Dusty Payne, Gavin Gillette, Marcus Hickman, Joel Centeio, Liam McNamara, Flynn Novak, Daniel Jones and Myles Padaca.

Novak, who is from Sunset Beach, said he relied on his North Shore experience to advance through two heats yesterday.

"It's the ocean and anybody can get lucky or unlucky," he said. "But I still tried to use a strategy based on what I know. There's a gnarly current that goes out and across the harbor, and I knew to stay away from that."

If the waves continue to rise, so do the chances of the Triple Crown title returning to Hawai'i. Australia's Bede Durbidge took the championship last year, when smaller conditions prevailed.

The Triple Crown title is one of the most coveted in the sport. It is awarded to the best overall performer in the three events of the Triple Crown series.

"I'd be stoked just to win one of the Triple Crown contests in my career," Gaskell said.

Padaca won the Triple Crown championship in 2001, and said he is still reaping its benefits.

"It's like it moved me to the top of the food chain here," said Padaca, who is from O'ahu's North Shore. "I can go out just about anywhere on the North Shore and get my waves. It's like people recognize you a little more out there."

He said he also realizes how difficult it can be to win the Triple Crown title.

"I feel fortunate to have done it once," he said. "I've been trying to win another one ever since, and it feels impossible sometimes. There's probably 100 guys good enough to win it. There's so many variables — it's a combination of luck and skill, and years and years of practice."

Standouts from the international contingent yesterday included Australians Mark Matthews and Mark Occhilupo, and California's Chris Waring.

Among the Hawai'i surfers eliminated were former Triple Crown champion Derek Ho, and Kaua'i's Bruce Irons.

The contest is expected to continue today, if conditions are favorable. For status of the contest, call 596-7873 or visit www.triplecrownofsurfing.com.