Tyler Wright, Australia’s two-time world surfing champion, has ended her 541-day nightmare away from surfing, by making a triumphant return at the 2019 Lululemon Maui Pro.
In her first competition she has surfed following seventeen months of illness, Tyler placed second at the 2019 lululemon Maui Pro.
In perfect five-to-seven-foot Honolua Bay, Tyler surfer her way through to the Final of the event, putting on near perfect performances and matching up against huge names including World Title threat Lakey Peterson.
In the end it was 7x World Champion Stephanie Gilmore who took the win in the Final heat, but the runner-up finish was no defeat for Tyler.
Her performance in Maui today marks the beginning of an incredible comeback for the 2x World Champion.
“Wow, I am very much still processing a lot of this,” Tyler said following her Final heat.
“I feel so lucky and grateful to be here today. It was only a couple of months ago that I was still in a rough place. I’m so grateful to the people who have been there for me over the past year, the people who have helped me get here today. I’d like to thank them all, especially my girlfriend Alex who has been there the entire time for me. She was with me during the worst of the worst, and to be here today, surfing and happy and healthy, it’s incredible. It’s been a rough time of illness, and I’m so enjoying this moment.”
Tyler’s attention will now turn to the 2020 Championship Tour with a plenty of preparation time ahead of the opening event, the Corona Open on the Gold Coast in late March.
Article courtesy of Rip Curl Australia.
Follow @tylerwright on Instagram.
Tyler Wright is managed exclusively by The Fordham Company.
For any enquires please contact Hamish Birt.