Owen Wright: The Runner-Up Returns
Owen Wright (AUS) on one of the best waves of the Billabong Pro Tahiti last year. Pic ASP/Robertson.
ASP Australasia caught up with Owen while he was en-route to Tahiti to find out how he’s feeling heading into this event.
What has your preparation for Tahiti been like?
My preparation for Tahiti has been pretty strong. I spent a good amount of time along the Bukit Peninsula in Bali working on my Tahiti boards with my shaper Parrish Byrne. We saw a few swells backing up and thought it was an ideal chance to iron out any chinks in the boards and get me prepared for Tahiti.
You’re currently ranked 9th, what’s it going to take to move up?
Right now on the ratings I am in a very similar position to where I was in 2011, I will look to my experiences from last year to help me move up the ratings. Tahiti is the first challenge in front of me for what should be an exciting back half of the year event wise.
You finished second last year, is there any pressure to go one better?
I don’t know if there is pressure to go one better, I would certainly like to go one better for sure, but I’m aware that it’s an event everyone covets so I’m not putting any pressure on myself to have to win it. There is a class field here in Tahiti and anyone of the top 32 could take out the event.
Tell us your favourite moment you’ve ever had at Teahupoo.
I have two pretty special moments at Teahupoo – Making the final against Kelly (Slater) last year was a special moment for me, but there is one wave in particular when I look back at, I feel a little grin on my dial. I took a pretty late drop on an 8 – 10 footer angling in from the West and then did a pump into a sizeable cavern, I stood pretty relaxed and tall in the barrel and came out. It was a special moment because within myself I kind of conquered a little something on that wave.
You don’t seem intimidated out there, why is that?
Without doubt I am intimidated by Teahupoo, I still get butterflies every time I’m contemplating taking off. It’s a crazy wave and there is always an element of risk, but I have practised my whole life surfing heavy waves down the South Coast in preparation, so I am as ready as I can be.
Who are the major threats out there and why?
All of the top 32, the wildcards, trial winners and pretty much anyone that puts on a rashie will be threatening. Kelly has set the benchmark over the years, he will be hard to get past. John John (Florence) is in form, the Hobgoods take to Chopes like ducks to water, and going on last year Josh (Kerr), Julian (Wilson) and Matt (Wilkinson) will all be menacing.
Thanks for your time, good luck in the comp.
No worries.
Comments
Category: All ASP News, ASP Editorial News
Can I meta comment?
Why are we reading about this particular surfer?
If it is so obvious that sponsorship means control of content then
why not just wait till the surf is excellent and have an exhibition of quality surfing- like happened at Cloudbreak?
OK this guy surfs for whoever but the content of excellent surf is worth more than the content we can derive from a contest….
Why are we reading about this surfer? because he came second at Chopes last year mate, made three back to back finals against slater, won the highest paying event of all time and Is a definite goofy foot world title threat.
He surfs for Rip Curl and this is a Billabong event. If sponsorship means control of content, wouldnt a Billabong sponsored surfer have been interviewed?
And your comment about the content of excellent surf being worth more than we derive from a contest is ridiculous. We can watch the free surfers, and the blogs of the pros and see them surf perfect waves every day of the week. A contest makes a surfer work their hardest in the conditions they are given, thats what competing is about. beating the other surfers on a given day in the conditions huey serves up. As much as i love seeing the top 32 take on perfect chopes, i also love seeing them destroy 3 foot slop like im used to surfing. shows how good they are and what is truly capable.
i like owens attitude when asked who is a threat in tahiti and his reply is anyone who puts on a rashy. that is surfing in general