Kaua'i's Alana Blanchard scored the first significant victory of her career today, winning the Vans Hawaiian Pro women's surfing contest.

The finals of the contest were run today in wave-face heights of 2 to 6 feet at Hale'iwa Ali'i Beach.

Blanchard trailed world champion Stephanie Gilmore for most of the 30-minute heat, but took the lead in the final five minutes. Blanchard received a score of 7.83 (out of 10) after completing a series of difficult turns on a fast-closing wave.

She finished with a two-wave score of 14.16, which was enough to earn the $2,500 first-place check.

The Vans Hawaiian Pro is the first event in the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing, so Blanchard has the early lead in the chase for the prestigious Triple Crown title.

Gilmore finished second with a two-wave score of 13.04.

Gilmore, who is currently ranked No. 1 in the world, is the defending world and Triple Crown champion.

Sofia Mulanovich of Peru was third, and Rebecca Woods of Australia was fourth.

Punahou School senior Carissa Moore, who won the Hawaiian Pro last year, was eliminated in the semifinals.

The Reef Hawaiian Pro men's contest ran just two heats yesterday, but there was one significant upset. Kaua'i's Andy Irons, a three-time former world champion, was eliminated in his third round heat.

The men's contest still requires two days of competition to determine a champion. For daily updates, visit triplecrownofsurfing.com.