"I spoke to his Dad and just two weeks ago he said he was nowhere near ready," Kelly Slater said while watching Owen Wright surf in the Semifinals of the Quiksilver Pro. "Now he's surfing so great, and wouldn't it be the story of all stories if Owen and Wilko are in the Final? Wilko making it back-to-back Finals, and Owen coming back. Now that would be the feel-good start to the year."
Wilko and Wright shape up before their Final. - WSL / Steve Sherman
Of course Kelly ended up being right, both in his finals prediction and in just how good Owen and Wilko made us feel. While Owen's comeback from a severe brain injury had enough feel-good fuel to power a thousand rainbows, the fact that he defeated his best friend only added to the sheer weight of positive emotion.
"I obviously wanted to win, but Owen has made me cry about five times this week. To see him last year was one of the toughest things I've ever witnessed and to come back," Wilkinson said, choked with emotion, when the two were interviewed seconds after their heat. "So if there's anyone that's going to beat me, I'm so glad it's you, dude."
The pair, born 14 months apart, have been best friends and rivals since their competitive lives began. As the best young Australian surfers of their age group, their careers have been intertwined from the start. They fought over a succession of Australian Junior titles throughout their teens, traveled together on the Qualifying Series (QS) for three years, and both made their debuts on the Championship Tour (CT) in 2010.
Away from the competition scene the two goofyfooters have also shared the same sponsor, Rip Curl, since they were kids, and have traveled the world together for over a decade. They have traded tubes in Tonga, Bintangs in Bali and dance floors in Durban. They have probably spent more time on boats together than most of America's Cup crews. Each has seen the very best -- and the very worst -- of each other. Simply put, they are best friends.
Yet another candlelit dinner for two on The Search. - WSL / Rip Curl
And so it was Wilko who was one of the few in Wright's close-knit circle who was by his side from the start of his injury and throughout the painful recovery process. Wilko played his own small part in that miraculous comeback, helping "O-Dawg" through the bleak times and celebrating the small steps forward.
"I would not have wanted any other person in the Final other than Wilko," an emotional Wright said, clutching his mate. "He's been supporting me the whole way through the injury. To have him here, beside me again, makes it even more special."
Feel good? Sport has rarely felt better.
A Battle? Not Exactly
Ben Mondy
"I spoke to his Dad and just two weeks ago he said he was nowhere near ready," Kelly Slater said while watching Owen Wright surf in the Semifinals of the Quiksilver Pro. "Now he's surfing so great, and wouldn't it be the story of all stories if Owen and Wilko are in the Final? Wilko making it back-to-back Finals, and Owen coming back. Now that would be the feel-good start to the year."
Of course Kelly ended up being right, both in his finals prediction and in just how good Owen and Wilko made us feel. While Owen's comeback from a severe brain injury had enough feel-good fuel to power a thousand rainbows, the fact that he defeated his best friend only added to the sheer weight of positive emotion.
"I obviously wanted to win, but Owen has made me cry about five times this week. To see him last year was one of the toughest things I've ever witnessed and to come back," Wilkinson said, choked with emotion, when the two were interviewed seconds after their heat. "So if there's anyone that's going to beat me, I'm so glad it's you, dude."
The pair, born 14 months apart, have been best friends and rivals since their competitive lives began. As the best young Australian surfers of their age group, their careers have been intertwined from the start. They fought over a succession of Australian Junior titles throughout their teens, traveled together on the Qualifying Series (QS) for three years, and both made their debuts on the Championship Tour (CT) in 2010.
Away from the competition scene the two goofyfooters have also shared the same sponsor, Rip Curl, since they were kids, and have traveled the world together for over a decade. They have traded tubes in Tonga, Bintangs in Bali and dance floors in Durban. They have probably spent more time on boats together than most of America's Cup crews. Each has seen the very best -- and the very worst -- of each other. Simply put, they are best friends.
And so it was Wilko who was one of the few in Wright's close-knit circle who was by his side from the start of his injury and throughout the painful recovery process. Wilko played his own small part in that miraculous comeback, helping "O-Dawg" through the bleak times and celebrating the small steps forward.
"I would not have wanted any other person in the Final other than Wilko," an emotional Wright said, clutching his mate. "He's been supporting me the whole way through the injury. To have him here, beside me again, makes it even more special."
Feel good? Sport has rarely felt better.
Owen Wright
Featuring Yago Dora, Filipe Toledo, Caio Ibelli, Ian Gouveia, Kelly Slater, John John Florence, Gabriel Medina, Julian Wilson, Adriano de
Featuring Gabriel Medina, Owen Wright, Matthew McGillivray, Jeremy Flores, Nathan Hedge, Jadson Andre, Kanoa Igarashi, Caio Ibelli, John
The 10th stop on tour and the final proving ground as the world's best look to clinch their spots in the Rip Curl WSL Finals. Take a look
Owen Wright is eliminated from competition, in the process ending his career. Nevertheless, Owen is chaired up the beach in celebratory
The longtime CT icon Owen Wright kicked off his retirement from pro surfing with an Opening Round win over 2022 World Champ, Filipe Toledo,
Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast
With the Boost Mobile Pro Gold Coast starting on April 3rd, relive Gilmore's 2017 victory at the Gold Coast.
The 3x Champ announced that Bells will be the last event of his CT career. But first, he's performing for his adoring fans on the Goldy.
It's all happening when the 2018 Championship Tour season kicks off March 11. Take a look at some of last year's biggest moments.
Kate Jones, the Minister for Tourism Industry Development, welcomes the Quiksilver Pro and Roxy Pro Gold Coast.
Only 50 points separate Conner O'Leary and Frederico Morais on the Jeep Leaderboard.