Tyler Wright (AUS) earned back-to-back World Titles today at the final stop on the 2017 WSL Championship Tour, the Maui Women’s Pro.
Credit: © WSL / Cestari

HONOLUA BAY, Maui, Hawaii/USA (Thursday, November 30, 2017) – Today, Tyler Wright (AUS), 23, earned her second World Title after a big day of competition at the final event of the 2017 World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour (CT), the Maui Women’s Pro. Honolua Bay delivered beautiful, five-to-seven foot (1.5 – 2.1 metre) waves as the swell filled in throughout the morning, which offered pristine conditions for the competitors. Massive upsets followed in Round 4 and the Quarterfinals, where Wright garnered the World Title by day’s end.

“Today was perfect,” said Wright. “I was so excited to be in this event and excited to be in this position. I have just been having the best week and I cannot explain how much this week has meant to me. We’ve just had a sick team and everyone has been amazing. All through the year, there have been little ups-and-downs, but to be in this moment right now in the position — I was happy before I won and I am just as happy now.”

The now two-time WSL Champion, Wright, came into the event in second place on the Jeep Leaderboard and as the defending event winner. Last season, the young Australian came charging through 2016 with a newfound determination and confidence, resulting in five CT wins (Gold Coast, Margaret River, Rio de Janeiro, Lower Trestles, Maui) and the world surfing crown. Wright continued the momentum into this year, locking in one event win at the Oi Rio Pro. In a dramatic turn of events, Wright suffered a knee injury just before the CT event in Cascais, Portugal but has since surfed her way to a huge comeback, climbing up the rankings to second and putting herself back in the World Title race to clinch the Championship again.

“This year definitely had its challenges, but I do not look at them that way,” Wright commented. “It was such a time of learning and growing that I took so much more from it than the knee injury itself. This year has just been one where I could have bowed out a lot of times but chose not to. I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for my team. They brought me back in from Portugal and the work they did in France was absolutely incredible. It is hard to explain how much they showed up and made sure I was in the right headspace to go out and compete and bring it to Maui in the end.”

With the major eliminations of World Title contenders Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) and Courtney Conlogue (USA), Wright’s last obstacle to claiming the title came down to the Quarterfinal matchup against event wildcard Brisa Hennessy (HAW). Hennessy, who played spoiler yesterday with her elimination of Fitzgibbons, could not find her rhythm in the heat and gave Wright her big victory with a 16.10 (out of a possible 20) two-wave score.

“It was not just one and done after winning last year,” continued Wright. “I decided in 2015 that I was going to win one every year and I want to hold true to that. Working with Glenn [Hall] over the last two years has been incredible. We have this long plan, and I plan to stick to it. Back-to-back is just a true testament to his dedication and the work he puts in non-stop. It takes a team to do this, so I want to thank him and everyone who has gotten me to this point in life. It is just nice to be here. Thank you.”

Conlogue’s World Title hopes were dismantled for the third year in a row after losing to Nikki Van Dijk (AUS) in Round 4 Heat 3 today. The nail-biting heat between Conlogue and Van Dijk saw the Australian capitalize on her first and last waves for a slight 2.41-point advantage over the American. Current World No. 2 Conlogue faltered on multiple attempts as she looked for a minimal 6.11 to overtake Van Dijk. Conlogue’s elimination gave Wright the opportunity to take down her second World Title in the Quarterfinals.

“I’ll learn a few things from what went down in that heat,” Conlogue said. “I got denied on that first barrel, which was a bummer. I gave it my best shot and I’ve been trying a lot of new things this season, so I was pretty stoked to be in the title run even with all the experimentation I was doing. With everything said and done, there are things that you could’ve, should’ve, would’ve, but I gave it my best shot. I am not looking back, I am just looking ahead. I had the opportunity this year and I’ll have it next year.

“Once you put the jersey on, all the work should be done and that’s how you can have some ease, but today wasn’t my day,” continued Conlogue. “I handled that learning with an open mind and kept evolving this season and I really think at the start of next year everything’s going to be in the right gear. At the end of the day, there are things you wish could maybe change, but next year I’m going to learn from it and not take it back because it’s not going to be taken back.”

Despite taking out Conlogue in Round 4, Van Dijk fell to Malia Manuel (HAW) in the Quarterfinals and will be eliminated in Equal 5th place from the Maui Women’s Pro.

Stephanie Gilmore’s (AUS) impeccable form at Honolua Bay continued after posting another near-perfect 9.50 in her Quarterfinal heat against Silvana Lima (BRA). Although Gilmore could not earn her seventh World Title, the decorated competitor looks unstoppable in her hunt for a history-making, fourth Maui trophy.

“I said I wanted to start the year at the top and then had a dip, so I want to finish at the top and that means to try and win the event,” Gilmore said. “I am stoked for Tyler [Wright] winning again! She’s an incredible surfer and to go through a knee injury and still win a World Title is unbelievable. I’m just really happy for her.”

In another huge event upset, rookie Bronte Macaulay (AUS) took down Carissa Moore (HAW), three-time WSL Champion and two-time event winner, in the final Quarterfinal heat to close out the day. Macaulay’s backhand attack was relentless from start to finish, opening with a 6.33, and continued to show her persistence until the final horn sounded. This marks the 2017 CT rookie’s best result of the season and will face off against Manuel in her Semifinal match-up.

Event organizers will convene tomorrow morning at 7:30 a.m. to assess conditions and make the next call.

For more information, check out WorldSurfLeague.com

Tyler Wright’s 2017 WSL Championship Tour Results:
Roxy Pro Gold Coast: 5th
Drug Aware Margaret River Pro: 2nd
Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach: 3rd
Oi Rio Women’s Pro: 1st
Outerknown Fiji Women’s Pro: 3rd
Vans US Open of Surfing: 5th
Swatch Pro at Trestles: 9th
Cascais Women’s Pro: 13th
Roxy Pro France: 3rd
Maui Women’s Pro: TBD

Tyler Wright’s Championship Tour Career Rankings:
2017: 1st
2016: 1st
2015: 5th
2014: 2nd
2013: 2nd
2012: 4th
2011: 4th

Upcoming Maui Women’s Pro Semifinal Match-Ups:
SF 1: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) vs. Tyler Wright (AUS)
SF 2: Malia Manuel (HAW) vs. Bronte Macaulay (AUS)

Maui Women’s Pro Quarterfinal Results:
QF 1: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 17.57 def. Silvana Lima (BRA) 14.20
QF 2: Tyler Wright (AUS) 16.10 def. Brisa Hennessy (HAW) 9.40
QF 3: Malia Manuel (HAW) 16.67 def. Nikki Van Dijk (AUS) 10.63
QF 4: Bronte Macaulay (AUS) 9.46 def. Carissa Moore (HAW) 7.67

Maui Women’s Pro Round 4 Results:
Heat 1: Silvana Lima (BRA) 13.00 def. Lakey Peterson (USA) 12.67
Heat 2: Brisa Hennessy (HAW) 15.83 def. Coco Ho (HAW) 9.34
Heat 3: Nikki Van Dijk (AUS) 13.94 def. Courtney Conlogue (USA) 11.53
Heat 4: Carissa Moore (HAW) 15.90 def. Tatiana Weston-Webb (HAW) 4.00