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World surfing champion Stephanie Gilmore has won back-to-back Billabong Pro Maui titles after defeating Hawaii's Melanie Bartels at Ho'okipa Beach Park.
The 20-year-old Australian also claimed the prestigious Triple Crown yesterday when she eliminated an emotional seven-time world champion Layne Beachley from the semifinals of the ASP women's world tour event.
Gilmore registered the highest score of the day in the final with a 9.57 to beat Bartels 17.6 to 14.8.
"You can't put in a performance at half-speed and I saw [Mel] get a solid wave so I just went for broke on the next one and it paid off," Gilmore said.
"It's a real honour to be considered a good surfer in Hawaii and in such a variety of conditions."
Retiring great Beachley finished fourth on the end-of-year rankings with her equal third placing in the last event of an illustrious 19-year career.
"We all have to lose some time and to go down to Steph, who I consider my protege and the one I am passing the torch to, is probably the most fitting way," Beachley said.
Brazil's Silvana Lima claimed the No 2 ranking.
- AAP
