Stephanie Gilmore's stunning dominance of women's surfing has continued with a third straight world title in Hawaii, but the Gold Coaster claimed emulating the deeds of tour legend Layne Beachley were not in her thoughts.

Gilmore finished third in the final of the Gidget Pro event at Sunset Beach, but it was enough to see her clinch the 2009 title with one event to go next month.

The 21-year-old has been the standout performer on the women's tour since storming away with the world title during her rookie season in 2007, winning 10 of the 22 events she has competed in since becoming a full-time tour member.

Her run has her on track to match Beachley, whose seven world titles remain the benchmark for women's surfing, but Gilmore said she was more driven by current rivals.

"That sort of record isn't really what I'm aiming at - I'm just trying to keep up with the rookies," Gilmore said.

"I'm not trying to chase the record, I'm all about surfing well in events and getting good waves."

The 21-year-old had the crown sewn up before the four-woman final - which was won by local trials winner Carissa Moore - when her last remaining challenger Coco Ho failed to progress past the semi-finals.

"I had no idea what was going on," said Gilmore, who was in the viewing tower as Ho bombed out.

"I wasn't following the second semi-final at all and I didn't know anything about the world title possibilities because I hadn't checked them out.

"All of a sudden all these cameras were around me and everyone started doing the countdown and I was like 'what's going on'.

"Three in a row, it's just amazing. The first one was just relief and the second was really satisfying and this one, it's just so hard to comprehend what's actually going on."

Gilmore will now head to the final event at Honolua Bay, beginning December 8, with the pressure off.

There is however the small matter of the triple crown title, awarded to the best performing surfer in the three Hawaiian events, regardless of world tour status.

Gilmore trails Hawaiian Alana Blanchard in the triple crown ratings, though neither was any match for Moore in the Gidget Pro final.

Moore, 17 and qualified for the tour full-time in 2010, won with a two-wave score of 14.24 points from Australian youngster Sally Fitzgibbons (13.07), Gilmore (12.17) and Blanchard (11.17).

There is little doubt Gilmore's focus was a little wayward following her title confirmation.

"It really took the weight off my shoulders heading into the final, but I think I was a little too relaxed," Gilmore said.

"The girls out there thought I was crazy, I was smiling and laughing and wasn't really concentrating."

Fitzgibbons' best result of the year pushed her up to fifth on the tour ratings and she posted the event's only 10-point ride and highest heat score of 17.17 in winning her semi-final.

"I was really happy to get that wave," Fitzgibbons said of the ever-shifting conditions at Sunset.

"It was tricky. There were not that many waves in that heat."

-AAP