Tyler Wright hoisted the championship trophy for the second consecutive year. Photo: WSL/Cestari
The race for the women’s World Title came down to the wire over the last two days. Tyler Wright, however, put an end to the intensity. At Honolua Bay, she took her second consecutive title in the quarterfinals against Brisa Hennessy, a wildcard.
Wright, of course, was always a threat–a favorite, even. With the caliber of surfers on tour, though, it was never a sure thing, but Brisa Hennessy’s rise to the quarters was a bit of a shocker. As is the case with most world title campaigns, Wright truly began her sprint to the finish line at the starting line at the Roxy Pro Gold Coast, the first event of the year. It wasn’t an easy run, though–a ninth-place finish at Trestles and a torn MCL in France were both considerable setbacks. In true champion form, though, Wright clawed her way back to the top of the podium.
After Courtney Conlogue, who was number three in the ratings, lost in the fourth round, Wright only had to win the quarterfinals to reclaim her title. By the second wave of heat, it was clear she was the favorite. Hennessy ended up in a combination situation. “Hennessy needed a combination of waves to catch up,” wrote the World Surf League, but bowed out gracefully, with a respectful splashing of the “water to celebrate her opponent’s big coup.”
“I was happy before I won,” said Wright after her win, and I’m just as happy now.”
