Tyler Wright, Stephanie Gilmore, Bethany Hamilton headline Manly Surf Pro
For 14 months Tyler Wright couldn’t even get out of bed. For another three she struggled to remember anything. Now Manly will host her Australian surfing comeback.
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Multiple world champion super Tyler Wright said she isn’t nervous about her Australian competition debut at Manly after a 17 month illness but she is clueless how she will go.
The Manly Surf Pro, which kicks off Sunday, will host both of Australia’s most recent women’s world surfing champions with Stephanie Gilmore also to compete at the event along with reigning world champion Carissa Moore and American shark surfer Bethany Hamilton.
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Wright said while she no longer feels constant pain and headaches from the post viral syndrome - a form of chronic fatigue- which laid her low for almost two years, she is still scarred by the experience.
“I’m traumatised by it. I have a different appreciation of things now,” said Wright, bedridden for 14 months with neurological complications which included light sensitivity.
“But it has simplified things. My job is to win heats and win world titles. That’s my job.
“I may get into it and be consumed by it. I don’t know.
“I don’t know if anyone will see changes or how I will feel.
“I do know I really like my job it’s almost been 10 years since I’ve been doing it so and I’m pretty qualified for it.”
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Wright, who has recently re-signed with Rip Curl, returned to competitive surfing in Maui last year and made it to the final of a world tour event before being beaten by Gilmore.
The Manly Surf Pro marks her Australian return from illness and her first competition of 2020.
“I am actually quite excited for Manly,” Wright said.
“I have a big week planned in terms of work as what I want to get done and the boards I want to try,” she said.
“It will be an exciting week for the spectators.
“I’m excited to get into some heats but I really don’t know how I will go.”
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