Siblings are made of the Wright stuff
SIBLINGS have had a great tradition in the sport of surfing, notably highlighted by the Wright family with twotimes world women’s champion Tyler and her brothers Owen and Mikey all competing on the world tour.
Gold Coast has its own junior version with Piper, 17, and Marlon Harrison, 14, as the next generation of sister and brother act.
Both have again qualified for the Australian titles in South Australia late this year.
The Harrison family moved from Gunnamatta, Victoria, a couple of years ago to slot in the Snapper Rocks break, join Snapper Boardriders Club and be regulars in the SuperBank line-up.
At the end of last year, Surf Scene ran a profile on Piper , who had just won her first Australian junior title.
Today we feature Marlon, who has been on a roll recently by winning the under-16 and under-14 finals of the Parko Groms Stomp and then backing it up for a second year in a row to represent Queensland in the national titles.
Marlon, a Year 8 student at Lindisfarne Grammar School, really enjoys school.
His favourite subject is maths and is considering studying at university but isn’t sure what, with obvious surfing matters on his mind.
“Surfing is definitely a game of confidence,” said Marlon who will pursue the Rip Curl Grom Search next and after that will join Piper who is on a world title mission in America. “Every heat I surf I learn and I improve.
“So every comp that achieve my goal is fantastic.
“I think surfing and doing OK at the Pro junior level has really helped me.
“I am really looking forward to travelling with my sister to USA where she is representing Australia at World ISA Juniors.”
Marlon is motivated by his sister’s success.
“Every time I surf she challenges me and in and out of the surf,” he said.
“Piper is an amazing supporter and I love her very much. I’m so grateful to have such a talented and incredible sister.” I
At the end of 2017 the Harrisons had their first trip to Hawaii and it proved to be a huge confidence booster, surfing and surviving big powerful Hawaiian waves.
“We spent a month in Hawaii last Christmas,” he said.
“It was incredible. We got a couple of huge swells. I loved Rocky Point, Sunset and Pipeline. We got to watch the final of the Pipe Masters and see a world champion crowned which was epic.”
But the craziest experience was when he and fellow Snapper team member Kai Tandler paddled out in maxedout surf at Sunset Beach.