HONOLUA BAY, Maui — Stephanie Gilmore of Australia captured her sixth world surfing crown Thursday at the season-ending Target Maui Pro on the Samsung Galaxy ASP Women’s World Championship Tour.
“I didn’t win an event last year and I think that was a bit of a wakeup call for me,” the 26-year-old Gilmore said. “I came into this season with the goal to surf better and I think the improvement in wave quality on the women’s tour was very motivating for me.”
Though she lost in the quarterfinals, Gilmore had earned enough season’s points to claim the championship when Carissa Moore of Honolulu defeated Tyler Wright of Australia in the Maui Pro final.
The victory marks Moore’s third tour win of the season and makes her the first surfer from Hawaii to triumph at Honolua Bay.
Gilmore now stands one behind fellow Aussie Layne Beachley in career world championships, and third behind men’s and women’s record-holder Kelly Slater with 11.