Hawai'i's Carissa Moore won't brag about making surfing history. Nor will she fuss about the money awaiting her as a pro rider.

The Punahou ninth-grader just wants normalcy.

"I don't see myself as someone big," Moore said. "I have fun hanging out with my friends and just being normal. It's not a big deal at school or anything."

Moore, 14, became the youngest surfer in history — male or female — to win a wildcard into a major World Championship Tour event, and to reach the finals.

She upset several marquee surfers, including seven-time world champion Layne Beachley, before losing to Australia's Chelsea Hedges, 11.33-6.70, in the final of the Roxy Pro Gold Coast in Coolangatta, Australia, Monday.

Moore is now ranked No. 2 on the Association of Surfing Professionals Women's World Tour. Her ranking, however, will be shortlived because she plans to compete in only a small number of mostly amateur contests for the remainder of the year.

"I don't think about it too much," Moore said of the ranking. "It's just cool."

Moore, an amateur, had to win a separate trials event to earn a spot in the 2007 ASP Tour opener.

Despite her success, Moore said she has no immediate plans to turn pro.

"I'll just wait until I finish high school to hopefully — if everything works out — try to do some pro events," Moore said. "We'll see what happens. Go with the flow.

"I don't know what would change my mind," she added. "I'm not thinking too much about it right now."

Moore eliminated Beachley in the third round Saturday, before ousting former World No. 2 Megan Abubo of Hawai'i and ASP Rookie of the Year Rebecca Woods Monday.

"I admire Layne not only for her surfing, but for the person that she is," Moore said. "She was just really nice to me. It was an honor to surf against her. She said, 'Good job.' She was really cool."

Moore won about $7,000 for her runner-up finish in Australia. Hedges pocketed $12,000.

Unlike other sports, surfing allows amateurs to collect prize money.

"Most other sports they do have strict guidelines, (but) surfing is a little more undefined," said Moore's father, Chris. "She can compete as an amateur, but still get the prize money and use it for travel later. ... (But) it's not about the money. It's more about the experience, the journey and the challenge."

Moore has won a record nine National Scholastic Surfing Association national titles in her young career. No other surfer — male or female — has won more than seven.

Other Hawai'i surfers who have won multiple NSSA titles are Andy Irons, Kalani Robb, Fred Patacchia Jr., Abubo and Melanie Bartels.

Irons has won more than $1 million in his ASP career.

Chris Moore said he prefers his daughter to complete her education and practice her surfing before turning pro.

"I'm sort of a firm believer that her best path is to stay grounded and practice her repertoire," Chris said. "I think if she started diving into more events, it's harder to improve because you're constantly traveling. ... Technically, she's doing pro events now. And she'll continue to do so. She's just not going to be involved in a world title chase."

Chris said Carissa's contest schedule this year will be limited so she can focus on school.

"It will be simpler," he said.

Carissa will likely skip the Quiksilver ISA World Junior Surfing Championships in Portugal in May, he said.

She's slated to compete in the regionals next week at Kewalo Basin, then the nationals at the end of June, and maybe a Hawai'i event before the Roxy Pro at the end of the year, Chris said.

And, when time allows, the Moore family will surf together.

Carissa's sisters, Cayla, 9; Kelly, 9; and Kailee, 6, all ride.

"The beach and ocean is definitely a common ground for all of us," mother Katie said.

Reach Brandon Masuoka at bmasuoka@honoluluadvertiser.com.