Roxy Pro: Family most important for Wright as she takes step towards World Surf League title

TYLER Wright’s yearning for a maiden World Surf League title is matched only by the desire for her brother Owen to overcome a severe injury setback.

Final of the Quiksilver Pro Surfing contest at Snapper Rocks on the Gold Coast. Tyler Wright wins the Womens Final. Picture Glenn Hampson

TYLER Wright’s yearning for a maiden World Surf League title is matched only by the ­desire for her brother Owen to overcome a severe injury.

There were major steps on the path to both yesterday when Wright won the series-opening Roxy Pro at Snapper Rocks and received a surprise visit from the brother who defied medical advice to be there.

As Wright was chaired up the beach by brothers Mikey and Tim after her Roxy Pro final win against Californian Courtney Conlogue, she learnt Owen had arrived at the beach to watch the final and ran to greet him.

“Really, medically, he shouldn’t be here,’’ Wright said. “I think when it comes to us we’ve got such a close bond in these moments. I honestly think I’d do the same for him.’’

The Wrights are a close clan and Tyler said she had a feeling Owen was with her yesterday morning as she entered the water for her final.

“I didn’t actually know, I didn’t think he would (come) but I had a moment before the final where I just felt like he was around,’’ she said.

“That’s kind of special for me and just knowing over the last couple of months how much it’s taken out of us, just his recovery itself.

“Him being so injured and yet still helping me get on my game and go, ‘hey I’m going to go and do this for a couple of hours, I’ll be fine, you can go for a surf’.’’

Owen, a world title contender himself last year, will miss at least half the WSL season after suffering a severe concussion while free surfing at Pipeline in Hawaii last ­December.

Wright said watching her brother in the past few months had helped focus her drive for a maiden world title.

“To be honest, I think the reason that I was able to come here and do what I do and even to set out this year … what I want to achieve, it’s through the last couple of months of ­experiences,’’ she said.

“It’s made everything so simple and so clear and for me, it’s almost easier what I need to do, what I want to do.

“And that’s only for the ­experiences over the last ­couple of months, I believe.’’

As well as Owen’s injury and ongoing rehabilitation, Wright lost her uncle and ­realised how short and precious life was.

“Watching what happened to Owen and then my uncle as well, it’s quite … I don’t know, it’s just simplified things,’’ she said. “I used to think it was so complicated to do this.’’

Owen’s close friend Matt Wilkinson, who won the Quiksilver Pro, said Wright had been a driving force in Owen’s recovery.

“For Tyler, she’s had such a crazy few months. She’s been like an incredible mum to Owen and been putting so much work in,’’ Wilkinson said.

“Massive congrats to her and Owen will be back in no time and killing it, I’m sure.’’

Wright said she had plenty of people on her side in her world title campaign.

“I think it’s a mindset of me realising that I have the ability, I definitely have the talent,’’ she said.

“I’ve always known that I can win one, it’s just how I was going to do that and I think bringing on Micro, having Owen, Michael, my family, they’re all very much on the side of helping me achieve this goal and they’re all willing to help me achieve that, so it’s quite a different mindset.”