LENNOX Head surfer Tyler Wright is on top of the world after taking out the first World Championship Tour event of the year.

Wright sprung an upset to claim the Roxy Pro on the Gold Coast, downing current world champion Stephanie Gilmore in their semi-final before edging out fellow Australian Sally Fitzgibbons in the final.

The 18-year-old snatched victory in the dying seconds of the final, scoring a 9.20 (out of a possible 10) on her last wave to claim the title.

Wright finished with a two-wave score of 17.97 (out of a possible 20) to eclipse Fitzgibbons on 16.66.

It is Wright's first win since joining the Tour fulltime in 2011.

Wright, who finished last season ranked fourth, admitted she had an indifferent year in 2012 and struggled to find motivation.

"I had a rough season last year and took a good break over the off-season to get relaxed," Wright said.

"To come back and get a win in the first event feels great and I'm just going to enjoy it.

"That little wave came in and hugged the bank and I just left it all on the wave.

"To get the score and win like that is incredible."

Wright was chaired up the beach by siblings Mikey and Kirby Wright.

Her brother Owen, a competitor on the men's world tour, also greeted her on her way to the podium.

"I don't even know what to say right now," Tyler Wright said.

"I wasn't even thinking out there, I was singing to myself and when I came in my sister said 'I was singing right along with you'."

Wright made the final of the Roxy Pro in 2011 and will next compete at the Margaret River Pro in Western Australia later this month.

Gilmore was full of praise for the Lennox Head teenager after their semi-final.

"My wave selection wasn't on today and Tyler is so talented that I shouldn't have let my guard down with her," Gilmore said.

It wasn't all good news for the Wright family with Owen suffering a shock loss in the second round of the Quiksilver Pro at Snapper Rocks yesterday.

Wright scored 14.43 to finished behind Hawaiian Dusty Payne (14.44).

Byron Bay surfer Kieren Perrow was also eliminated, beaten out Brazilian young gun Filipe Toledo.

Lennox Head surfer Adam Melling (15.90) won his heat against American Damien Hobgood (8.80).

Melling is the last remaining competitor from the Far North Coast still in the event.