World champion Tyler Wright chasing surf history and Stephanie Gilmore record at Maui Pro

WORLD champion Tyler Wright has kicked off her bid to match Stephanie Gilmore’s eight-year-old record of five wins in a season with a cruisy first-up victory at the Maui Pro.

Aussie world champion Tyler Wright in strong form at the Maui Pro in Hawaii.

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WORLD champion Tyler Wright has kicked off her bid to match Stephanie Gilmore’s eight-year-old record of five wins in a season with a cruisy first-up victory at the Maui Pro.

But on a day of mixed fortunes for Australian surfers, both Sally Fitzgibbons and Laura Enever were early casualties at the world series finale for 2016, sent to the sand in the second round by Americans Coco Ho and Lakey Petersen.

Newly crowned world surfing champion Tyler Wright is chasing her fifth win of the year in Hawaii.

In contrast Wright, Gilmore and young rookie Keely Andrew all advanced directly into the third round courtesy of opening heat wins.

“I’ve just been taking it all in and enjoying it since France, but I’ve been very busy,” Wright said.

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“I haven’t had a lot of time to surf coming into this event. I’m happy to be back in the water and definitely feeling more relaxed now.”

Tyler Wright celebrates after winning her maiden world crown at the Roxy Pro France.

Wright, 22, won four world surf league event titles on her way to claiming a maiden world crown in France in November.

With the pressure off, the Australian surfer is in pole position to now match the record of good mate Gilmore in winning five events in a season.

Six-time world Gilmore achieved the milestone when she won five events on the old ASP world tour back in 2008.

The feat has not been achieved since with world champions securing their titles with either three or four wins a season.

Gilmore is also hoping for success in Hawaii with the multiple world champion without a win on the World Surf League for two years.

“This is such a beautiful place and such a good event and everyone wants to finish off the year strong and have a good result here,’’ she aid.

“We’ll see what happens, but next year is a clean slate.

“I didn’t quite piece things together this year but hopefully next year I can be more consistent.”