This article is more than 3 years old

This article is more than 3 years old

World surfing champion Tyler Wright has completed one the most dominant campaigns in history with victory in the season-ending Maui Pro in Hawaii.

The win was the Australian’s fifth of 2016 – matching the record of former world champion and fellow Australian Stephanie Gilmore.

Wright, who only missed the final in three of the 10 stops of this year’s tour, ends the season with $US400,500 ($A536,300) in season prizemoney and a whopping 11,800 points ahead of her nearest rival, American Courtney Conlogue, on the tour standings.

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The 22-year-old wrapped up her maiden world title in France in October, but showed little signs of easing into the end of year break in Hawaii.

Wright came from behind to pip hometown favourite and three-time world champion Carissa Moore in Saturday’s final (Sunday AEST), claiming the win by a 1.33 points.

It’s the first time in eight tour finals between the pair that Wright has beaten Moore – marking another significant milestone in a breakout year.

Wright says finding motivation after wrapping up the title was never an issue.

“It’s a game you know, and I’m very much enjoying it,” Wright told AAP.

“I always kind of just do the work that I need to do. I really like the idea of working hard and preparing the right way for every individual event ... surfing, training and the rest is just having fun – it’s not that hard to work hard at what I do.”

Wright said she entered the Maui event feeling calm after a whirlwind month following her confirmation as world champion.

Long renowned as a surfer who struggled to mix consistency with her talent, Wright has already acknowledged the impact a serious brain injury to her brother Owen in December last year had on her mindset.

And her dominance this year hasn’t been a surprise for the NSW south coast-based surfer.

“I always knew I could do this kind of surfing and competing, it’s just I wasn’t quite ready to do it yet,” she said.

“Until I was ready and actually committed to being prepared and putting in the hard work – I’ve always known I could do it – but until I made that decision a lot of people didn’t think I was consistent.

“I learnt a lot through those learning years ... it’s shaped the way I approach things now.”

Tyler Wright’s incredible 2016:

* Won five titles (Gold Coast, Margaret River, Rio, Trestles, Maui)

* Claimed $A536,300 in prizemoney for the season

* Failed to reach the final in just three events

* Worst finish of the year was 13th at Fiji Women’s Pro

* Claimed 72,500 ranking points – the highest single season tally in WSL tour history