Fanning, Owen join surge of Aussie talent

AMANDA LULHAM MICK Fanning and Owen Wright will be back on the world stage next year after extended breaks while Aussies will continue to rule the waves in record numbers in both men’s and women’s surfing.

In the first world surf league season since the announcement surfing will debut at the 2020 Tokyo Games, the final fields for the men’s and women’s tours have been re- vealed with more Australian surfers than any other nation.

Fanning, who took some time out in the wake of his shark attack in July 2015, a relationship breakdown and family death, has requalified for the world tour.

Owen Wright, who suffered a brain injury in a hold down at Pipeline in December 2014, has gained a wildcard, signalling he is on the road to recovery from the potentially career-ending injury.

Wright’s acceptance of his wildcard position is contingent upon a medical evaluation prior to the start of the season.

If he is unable to surf, the wildcard spot will be allocated to Brazilian Alejo Muniz.

World champion Tyler Wright heads a list of seven women on the 17-strong women’s tour which includes rookie Bronte Macauley and regular faces Stephanie Gilmore and Sally Fitzgibbons.

In a sign of strength in the men’s competition, world champions Fanning and Joel Parkinson are back with two Australians making the cut as rookies to bring the number of Aussies on the world tour to 12.

Young guns Connor O’Leary and Ethan Ewing will make their first fulltime appearances on the world tour next year.

Joining them will be world No.5 Matt Wilkinson, Julian Wilson (No.8), Parkinson (No.9), Josh Kerr (No.13), Adrian Buchan (No.14), Mick Fanning (No.17), Stuart Kennedy (No.19), wildcards Bede Durbidge and Wright and qualifier Jack Freestone.

Brazil has qualified nine surfers and the US and Hawaii seven between them, including reigning world champion John John Florence.

The first event of the men’s and women’s world tour is the Quiksilver and Roxy Pro Gold Coast from March 14.