Carissa Moore Claims Target Maui Pro and 2015 WSL Title

HONOLUA BAY, Hawaii, Dec. 3, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- The Target Maui Pro came to a phenomenal close today with the world-class Honolua Bay delivering perfect four-to-six foot (1.5 - 2 metre) plus waves to close the season for the world's best surfers.

Action was incendiary from the start with the 2015 WSL Title clinched for now three-time World Champion Carissa Moore (HAW) as underdog Coco Ho (HAW) eliminated title challenger Courtney Conlogue (USA) in this morning's Round 4 heat.

Moore's historic day didn't end there as the Hawaiian powerhouse took full advantage of pristine conditions and building swell, rampaging her way through the rounds and into the Final where she posted an astonishing 19.50 (out of a possible 20) - earning a unanimous 10 (out of a possible 10) - to claim her second, consecutive Target Maui Pro victory.

"You can never feel it 'til the end and this is definitely the moment," Moore said. "Courtney's been surfing so well, she's worked so hard and I never counted her out for a moment. It's crazy being in a title race. There's so many ups and downs and just to keep that confidence up when you lose. I've enjoyed the whole ride and to see it pay off, it was just nice to finish off the season strong last year here. It's a place I love to surf and it just lit a fire underneath me and got me excited for this season. That was the biggest barrel I've ever gotten in competition and I'm just so thankful for everything."

After a season-long battle with Conlogue which saw the Jeep Leader Jersey switch back and forth multiple times, Moore was filled with immense respect for her Californian contemporary.

"I look at Courtney and just see that she's a fierce competitor, she's ready, she's on and was going to go to the final and so I realized I had to go to the final too," Moore said. "I had no idea or thought that she was going to go out in Round 4 and well done to Coco - she was surfing so well. It's really special to be here at home having the local support and support of my family. This morning I had a rattled morning, feeling a little disorganized in my morning surf I just tried to regroup and just had to work through these thoughts. I'm really proud."

2015 WSL Runner-Up Courtney Conlogue (USA) is coming off her best Championship Tour (CT) performance in her five years on tour, but couldn't find the scores she needed to top Coco Ho (HAW).

"I think it's kind of a roller coaster," Conlogue said. "This whole season has been that way. I put everything out there and gave it my all and today just wasn't my day. This is my best season so far and I'm going to look back at it and know I could've done better - you always can. It's a bummer and devastating but now that I am where I'm at at the end of the season I just have to move forward and keeping grinding it out to get ready for next year."

Moore's 2015 Samsung Galaxy WSL CT Results:
Roxy Pro Gold Coast: WINNER
Rip Curl Women's Pro Bells Beach: WINNER
Women's Drug Aware Margaret River Pro: 2nd
Oi Rio Women's Pro: 3rd
Fiji Women's Pro: 9th
Vans US Open of Surfing: 5th
Swatch Women's Pro Trestles: WINNER
Cascais Women's Pro: 9th
Roxy Pro France: 3rd
Target Maui Pro: WINNER

The 2015 men's WSL Champion will be decided at the upcoming Billabong Pipe Masters in Memory of Andy Irons, taking place in Oahu.   Six contenders from two nations --  Mick Fanning (AUS), Filipe Toledo (BRA), Adriano de Souza (BRA), Gabriel Medina (BRA), Owen Wright (AUS) and Julian Wilson (AUS) -- are all within striking distance for the world surfing crown.

For more information, log onto www.WorldSurfLeague.com

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20151203/293014

SOURCE World Surf League

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