The surfing reign of Stephanie Gilmore continued on Maui yesterday.

Gilmore, who is from Australia, solidified her reputation as the best female surfer in the world by adding a couple of more titles to her resume.

Gilmore won the Billabong Pro Maui contest for the third consecutive year, and clinched her second consecutive Vans Triple Crown of Surfing championship in the process.

"Once again, Maui has just been incredible and to win this event three times in a row is just awesome," Gilmore said. "I couldn't have been happier with the way things have gone today. Winning the Vans Triple Crown is definitely up there with winning the world title and it's definitely one of the biggest accolades of surfing professionally. I can't believe it's all happening again. It's awesome."

Gilmore had already clinched her third consecutive women's world championship last month.

Apparently not one to rest on her laurels, Gilmore dominated the final day of the Billabong Pro Maui, which was run in wave-face heights of 8 to 12 feet at Honolua Bay.

She defeated Peru's Sofia Mulanovich in the final, 18.0-10.17. Gilmore also posted scores of 19.67 (out of 20) in the quarterfinals, and 16.03 in the semifinals.

Her quarterfinal score of 19.67 was the highest total in any women's contest in all of 2009, and earned her a $10,000 Nixon watch.

"I guess it's a little surprising," Gilmore said. "I would have thought that the highest heat total would have gone down (Tuesday) with all of the barrels. Today there are still some rippable waves out there, but I don't know. I just went surfing."

Gilmore also received $37,000 in prize money — $12,000 for winning the contest, and $25,000 for the "Vans Triple Crown Triple Threat" bonus.

Gilmore made the finals in each of the three Triple Crown contests. She placed third at Sunset Beach, and second at Hale'iwa.

The Triple Crown title is awarded to the best overall surfer in the three events.

Kaua'i's Alana Blanchard, who had the Triple Crown lead entering the Maui contest, was eliminated in the third round.

Coco Ho of Sunset Beach and Melanie Bartels of Wai'anae were eliminated in the quarterfinals.

Punahou School senior Carissa Moore, who was also in Triple Crown contention, was eliminated in the third round.

The Billabong Pro Maui was the final women's event of 2009.

Ho, who is in her rookie season on the ASP Women's World Tour, was the top Hawai'i surfer in 2009, finishing at No. 4 in the final rankings.

Bartels finished at No. 6, Blanchard No. 13, and Megan Abubo No. 17.

Moore will become a full-time member of the tour in 2010.

The men's Billabong Pipeline Masters did not run yesterday. It could start today if conditions are favorable at the Banzai Pipeline.

For updated information, visit www.triplecrownofsurfing.com.