Wright chases repeat victory
OWEN Wright has revealed he was totally out of his comfort zone during his fairytale Quiksilver Pro win last season.
Wright capped a magical return to the World Surf League tour by winning the opening event of the season in an emotional return to Snapper Rocks after missing a year on tour following a brain injury.
While the significance of the comeback was lost on no one, few would have realised how much Wright was still pushing the boundaries.
“Last year I was really uncomfortable and this year I feel a lot more comfortable here,” Wright said after sealing a first-round win yesterday. “I surprised myself last year and this year I’m feeling comfortable, surfing good and hopefully can do the same thing.”
Wright, who has been working with a trainer since November, said he was feeling great and was looking forward to a full year on tour.
“I feel great,” he said. “I improved all last year and then in the off-season I started training and I’m feeling really healthy and happy and ready to go for the whole year.”
However he is not about to forget the emotion of last year..
“You carry the victories and for me, it was definitely much more than a victory,” said the older brother of women’s world champion Tyler. “It was getting back to the tour, reclaiming my life after an injury like that and I feel like that’s still with me now, so it’s definitely carried through.”
Wright won passage straight to Round 3 with his win yesterday, as did fellow Aussies Mick Fanning and Julian Wilson.
World champion John John Florence was not as successful, beaten by Griffin Colapinto in a heat against the US rookie and wildcard Mikey Wright,
OWEN WRIGHT
another of the Wright clan. Florence now faces a suddendeath heat against Mikey Wright, with several other big names also facing challenges.
Former world champions Gabriel Medina and Joel Parkinson have been tipped into the knockout round, as has Byron Bay’s Matt Wilkinson and Kelly Slater, who missed his opening heat yesterday.
Slater, who is receiving treatment on his foot in Hawaii after surgery, took to Instagram last night to say he would probably make the event if Round 2 is not today.
If it is, South African Michael February will step up.
I SURPRISED MYSELF LAST YEAR AND THIS YEAR I’M FEELING COMFORTABLE, SURFING GOOD