The Honolulu teen surged to her first world title with a total score of 19.16 to 16.17 in a high quality final at New Plymouth's Fitzroy Beach, winning the clash between the two world class teenagers both seeking their first win on the Dream Tour.
The youngest full time competitor on this year's Dream Tour, 17-year-old Moore carved up two brilliant rides to pull in front of Fitzgibbons, 19, with her two scoring efforts both marked at better than nine out of 10.
Moore sealed her victory with wave scores of 9.33 and 9.83 which Fitzgibbons, who had been the consistently best performer on show, with four scores greater than nine last week, couldn't match. Her two best efforts were marked 7.50 and 8.67.
Moore had reached the quarter final stage of the first two legs on this year's ASP Women's Tour but the rookie from Honolulu delivered on her enormous promise on Friday, including a defeat of 'giant-killing' Kiwi Sarah Mason in the semi-final.
The first ASP Tour event hosted by New Zealand was marred at the start by lay days early in the week but the choppy conditions smoothed out for the finals, which featured some of the smooth barrels the area is famed for.
The fourth event of nine on the Dream Tour is the Beachley Classic starting in Sydney on Wednesday.
Christian Surfers International (CSI), an organisation originally founded in Australia in the 1970's had a strong presence at the NZ event according to National Women's Co-ordinator for Christian Surfers NZ, Melony Clark, with an official CSI chaplain on the ASP women's tour for the pro-surfers and staff, (and another on the men's tour as well).
"Christian Surfers New Zealand were also present at the event as both volunteers behind the scenes and with an official marquee site which moved locations with the competition, where people could come and talk, get hold of a surfers bible, or find out about the activities of Christian Surfers in their local areas." she said.
The Christian Surfers movement asks the question: "Who do you surf for?" And answer it with a verse from Jeremiah 31.
"He who appoints the sun to shine by day, who decrees the moon and stars to shine by night, who stirs up the sea so that it's waves roar- the Lord Almighty is his name." Jeremiah 31:35
For more information on CSI check out http://www.christiansurfers.net