Australia's Stephanie Gilmore has won a sixth world surfing title in a dramatic climax to the 2014 women's tour in Hawaii.

Gilmore of Tweed Heads opened the door for compatriots Sally Fitzgibbons and Tyler Wright when she lost the quarter-final of the Maui Pro to American Courtney Conlogue this morning.

Fitzgibbons was eliminated in the following heat missing her chance to overtake rankings leader Gilmore.

Tyler won her quarter-final over Lakey Peterson and then her semi-final over South African Bianca Buitendag.

Tyler could snatch the world title from Gilmore by beating former world champion Carissa Moore in the final and then beating Gilmore in a surf-off for the final.

But overcoming Hawaiian Moore in the final proved too tough a hurdle for Tyler.

Moore won the final 18.23 to 14.03 handing a sixth world title to Gilmore.

Tyler finished runner-up for the year and Moore beat Fitzgibbons to third place.

Gilmore said it was an incredibly nervous situation watching from the sidelines as her world title went on the line.

Sorry, this audio has expired Interview: Steph Gilmore

"That was the craziest couple of hours," Gilmore said.

"I was so nervous just waiting and I was convinced Tyler would force it into a surf-off."

"I owe Carissa a drink tonight, that's for sure ... this is so unreal."

Gilmore one title behind Layne Beachley's record of seven

Gilmore said this year's title race, culminating in the three-way all-Australian battle in Hawaii, had been one of her toughest in eight years on tour.

"It's an incredible feeling of relief and elation," Gilmore told ABC radio.

"I didn't count Tyler or Sally out until that very moment when I knew that they were out of the race."

Wright, pipped to last year's title by Moore, was philosophical after her near miss.

"I live a pretty good life and I have fantastic people around me, so there's not a lot to get kind of bummed out about," Wright said.

"Some people call it a twisted view on what I do but it's just who I am. I don't get so caught up in the winning and losing side of life but more in the actual journey itself."

Gilmore adds the 2014 world crown to the titles she won in 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2012.

The 26-year-old is only one world title behind Layne Beachley's record haul of seven.

"It's happened so quickly, I can't believe it's six already," Gilmore said.

"But it is going to get harder and harder every year."

ABC/AAP