Every year, young surfers receive sponsorships if they put in strong showings at the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing.

This year, one established surfer — with an already-impressive resume — is in need.

Melanie Bartels of Wai'anae is currently Hawai'i's top-ranked female surfer at No. 10 in the world. She has climbed the 2008 rankings and toured the world without a major sponsor.

"My sponsors dropped me last year, so I've been borrowing money from my mom, my friends, just to make things work," said Bartels, 26. "It's a bummer. It's like the companies all want the younger generation. When you hit my age, that's too old already, I guess."

But Bartels is considered one of the world's most powerful female surfers, and her skills were on display yesterday.

Three rounds of the women's division of the Reef Hawaiian Pro were run yesterday in 3- to 5-foot waves at Hale'iwa Ali'i Beach. It is the first contest in the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing series.

Bartels was one of four Hawai'i surfers to advance to the quarterfinals. She had a two-wave score of 13.77, including a near-perfect 9.1 (out of 10) for a series of hard turns.

"This is good Hale'iwa, and it's better than any place else we go on the tour," Bartels said. "I just felt a little rusty because I haven't competed in a while."

Because of her lack of sponsorship, Bartels had to skip two events on the women's World Championship Tour, including last week's stop in Peru.

"I just couldn't afford it," she said. "But I'm still happy where I am. I missed two events and still in the top 10."

Bartels said she is hoping to get noticed by a sponsor at this year's Triple Crown to help her travel costs in 2009.

"I want to be a Triple Crown champ, that's my dream," she said. "If that's what it takes, then hopefully somebody can hook me up. Oprah, you listening?"

Bartels' search for sponsorship was just one of the storylines during yesterday's action.

Teen phenom Carissa Moore continued to impress, advancing to the quarterfinals after qualifying for the contest through a trials heat.

"I love surfing Hale'iwa, it's my favorite wave on the North Shore," said Moore, who is 16 and a junior at Punahou School.

Coco Ho of Sunset Beach also advanced to the quarterfinals, despite surfing with a wrap around her right knee.

"I have a big scrape on top of my whole knee, and when it touches my board, I want to cry," said Ho, who is 17 and a student at Elite Element Academy. "I hurt it right here (at Hale'iwa) the other day, so I'm so happy I made it through."

Ho advanced to the quarterfinals alongside her roommate, Laura Enever of Australia. They were in the same heat, and the top two from each heat advance.

"I've known Laura for five years," Ho said. "I stayed at her house in Australia (earlier this year), and she's staying at my house now."

Ho is the daughter of Michael Ho, and niece of Derek Ho. Michael (two) and Derek (four) have combined to win six men's Triple Crown championships.

"My family is No. 1," Coco said. "Everybody has such good feelings for my brother and my dad and Uncle Derek. I grew up watching their heats and now I'm trying to learn and live up to their expectations and enjoy myself."

Another Hawai'i teen — 18-year-old Alana Blanchard of Kaua'i — advanced to the quarterfinals. A strong showing in the Reef Hawaiian Pro could get Blanchard on the 2009 World Championship Tour.

The biggest elimination of the day was Waialua's Megan Abubo. She won the Reef Hawaiian Pro last year, and is the defending women's Triple Crown champion.

Shark-attack survivor Bethany Hamilton of Kaua'i advanced through one heat, then lost her second.

Also advancing were world champion Stephanie Gilmore of Australia, and seven-time former world champ Layne Beachley of Australia.

The competition could resume today, if conditions are favorable. For updates, visit www.triplecrownofsurfing.com or call 596-7873.