Tyler Wright downs Carissa Moore for first time on way to maiden Maui Pro title

ON a day of surfing milestones, Tyler Wright edged triple world champion Carissa Moore in a final for the first time to claim a maiden Maui Pro and five event titles in a season.

Tyler Wright after winning the Maui Pro.

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ON a day of surfing milestones, Tyler Wright edged triple world champion Carissa Moore in a final for the first time with a buzzer-beater to claim a maiden Maui Pro crown and become the first women in eight years to win five events in a single season.

A bridesmaid to Moore in eight previous finals, the 22-year-old Australian world champion held her nerve to ride a winning wave to the shore in the dying seconds of the decider.

Tyler Wright in the final of the Maui Pro.

It was a ride which delivered her the Maui Pro crown for the first time and her fifth event of the world surf league in 2016 — the most since six-time world champion Stephanie Gilmore achieved the same feat back in 2008 — and signalled the end to a year she will long remember.

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“That was fun, that was a lot of fun,’’ Wright told The Daily Telegraph.

“I have a lot of respect for Carissa and what she does and she’s definitely had my number in the past

“I needed to get my competitive game stronger to beat her.

Tyler Wright beat young Aussie Keely Andrew in the semi-finals.

“Carissa has just schooled me every year and this is the first year that I have come out knowing that I had to get the work done to reach that standard of being a complete and well-packaged world title contender. I think we will have many more fun battles to come.”

The Hail Mary wave saw Wright end the season with a winners trophy from events at Maui, the Gold Coast, Margaret River, Rio and Trestles in the US.

Tyler Wright celebrating her victory at the Maui Pro.

“It’s better than Lego right now,” Wright said.

“It is honestly incredible. It’s been an incredible year. Much love to my team. “

Honestly, Carissa (Moore) and I have had eight finals together and she has gotten me in seven, which is pretty incredible.’’

Wright said she will take a short break before returning to the surf in preparation for next season.

“To be honest I can’t wait. I'm really looking forward to it again,’’ she said.

Results in Maul saw Tyler Wright end the year as the world No. 1. followed by Americans Courtney Conlogue, Moore and Tatiana Weston-Webb. France’s Johanne Defay was fifth.