Joy Monahan of 'Aina Haina became the first female from Hawai'i to win a professional longboarding world championship yesterday.

Monahan, 22, won the Roxy ASP Women's World Longboard Championship in 1- to 2-foot waves at Biarritz, France.

She defeated three opponents yesterday, including Australia's Chelsea Williams in the final.

"I am super stoked, I cannot believe I won the championship," said Monahan, known as Joy Magelssen before getting married last year. "Chelsea is one of the best surfers in the world and it was one of the most difficult heats to win. I got good waves and was very focused for the win."

Williams had a 10-point lead over Monahan with 11 minutes remaining in the 30-minute final. Monahan cut the deficit by scoring an 8.25 (out of 10) with 10 minutes left.

Monahan then took the lead for good with a score of 5.85 with six minutes remaining. In the final tally, her best two waves scored a total of 14.1 points to top Williams' total of 13.5.

"I won most of the heat, but Joy got two good ones in the dying seconds," Williams said. "I tried to take the bigger waves at the very end, but it was not enough. I am still happy with my result and hope I can do better next year."

Monahan beat 2007 world champion Jennifer Smith of California in the semifinals. In a quarterfinal win over California's Rachel Barry, Monahan had a two-wave score of 16.25 — the best heat of the entire contest.

"I was very surprised to defeat Jennifer (Smith) in the semifinals," Monahan said. "I had a great week in Biarritz and it ends up perfectly. It is like a dream coming true and it is great to bring this world title home."

The women's world longboard championship started in 1999, and Monahan is the first surfer from Hawai'i to win it. Because there is no world tour for women's longboard surfing, the winner of the Roxy event is recognized as the world champion.

Monahan placed ninth in 2006 and fifth in 2007.

All surfers in the contest had to ride surfboards at least 9 feet long. The week-long contest started with 48 surfers from around the world.

Information from the Association of Surfing Professionals Web site was used in this report.