Owen Wright battling back from head injury that nearly ended his surf career
IMPOSING surfer Owen Wright, who has a reputation of fearlessly surfing lethal waves, says he cannot get to his feet on a surfboard.
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IMPOSING surfer Owen Wright, who has a reputation of fearlessly surfing lethal waves, says he cannot get to his feet on a surfboard.
More than three months after being thrashed in pounding Hawaiian waves and shortly after losing control of his speech, body and for a short period his memory, the 1.92m tall 26-year-old revealed he is still struggling to return from the serious head trauma.
“Funny thing is couldn’t get to my feet — so I just lay there,” the 2015 world title contender posted on his Instagram.
The post included an image of him holding a soft top surfboard designed for beginners and children.
Serious concerns have surrounded Wright’s “scary” injury on December 10 last year with the World Surfing League, his management and family staying tight-lipped about the details.
He went to ground after the injury but could not resist making an appearance at the Quiksilver Pro at Snapper Rocks to congratulate his younger sister Tyler, 21, who ran to give him a hug after she won the event.
Throughout the Quiksilver Pro Wright’s siblings insisted he was on the NSW South Coast.
But Wright was been finding his way back with family on the Gold Coast and in tiny waves at Byron Bay with the help of indie musician girlfriend Kita Alexander — which he said felt like a death-defying feat.
“It was about knee high and the drop was, well there was none, but it felt like I was dropping into 10ft Teahupoo,” he said of his first surf since the serious concussion.
“I finished the wave and I was so stoked I let out a hoot and claimed it and high fived Kita.”
He has remained positive throughout his recovery.
“Five minutes later I was on the beach and started to think about what I actually did,” he said.
Wright said he compared it to the phenomenal rides he has scored in the past before pushing the negative thoughts that arose in his mind.
“This I found started to ruin my experience and changed how I really felt,” he said.
“Negative emotion in your self will hinder improvement and happiness.”
Wright’s Brisbane-born partner has also remained upbeat, poking fun at her beau online, saying it was a ‘big day’.
“Day to remember because I’m better than a pro,” the 20-year-old said.
Wright withdrew from the first half of the World Surfing League Championship Tour but he admitted he could miss the whole year and he is getting the best medical attention.
“Head injuries are tricky in terms of mapping out recovery time and it’s possible that I may not be able to pull the jersey on all year,” he said at the time.
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