Tyler Wright, a 30-year-old surfing veteran, has made history by claiming her first Championship Tour victory in nearly two years and becoming the first woman to win Hawaii’s iconic Pipeline Pro twice. Wright, who has been battling concussion and equilibrium issues for some time, triumphed over American surfer Caity Simmers in a tense final on the North Shore of Oahu.
Wright’s win is a testament to her resilience and determination, particularly given the numerous injury and illness issues she has faced throughout her career. In 2018, she was left bed-bound by a debilitating bout of post-viral syndrome, and last year, she underwent a skull expansion surgery to ease breathing issues that had been plaguing her. The operation, which inserted seven screws into her head, has been described by Wright as “life-changing” after dealing with breathing issues her entire career.
However, Wright’s surgery also exacerbated head knocks she suffered in Hawaii 12 months ago, leading to concussion issues that ruled her out of several events throughout 2024. In a recent interview, Wright spoke candidly about the ongoing complications she has faced, saying that she has been “injured probably a lot more than people thought I was” and that she has had to “spend a lot of time figuring out how to get the joy back a little bit” in her surfing.
Wright’s win is not only a personal victory but also a significant milestone in women’s surfing. As she noted in her post-match interview, her performance against younger surfers, including 19-year-old Simmers and leading Australian contender Molly Picklum, has been particularly noteworthy. Picklum had a standout performance last year in the same event, which is considered a game-changing day for women’s surfing.
On the men’s side, Barron Mamiya, a Hawaiian local, defended his Pipeline crown in a dramatic fashion, winning a countback in the final against Italy’s Leo Fioravanti. Both surfers finished with impressive 17.97 scores from their two best waves, but Mamiya was awarded the win on the technicality of holding the highest scoring wave in the final. Fioravanti, who has overcome a challenging past to become a top surfer, was visibly frustrated by the judges’ ruling, which he felt was contentious.
Fioravanti, who broke his back as a teenager while surfing Pipeline, has been an inspiration to many with his determination and perseverance. Despite struggling with the score, he was gracious in defeat and acknowledged Mamiya’s win. “I’m stoked for Barron,” Fioravanti said in a post-match interview. “He surfed incredibly in the final and he deserved to win.”
The Pipeline Pro has been a highlight of the surfing calendar, attracting some of the world’s top surfers to the North Shore of Oahu. This year’s event has been particularly notable for the talent and depth across both the men’s and women’s draws. Manly-based rookie George Pittar made an impressive debut in his first Pipeline event, but ultimately bowed out at the quarter-finals. Kelly Slater, a 53-year-old wildcard surfer, was also unable to replicate his signature barrel-riding in the event.
As for Wright, her win has been a long time coming, and she is thrilled to have finally achieved her goal. “This is such a special win for me,” she said in her post-match interview. “I’m always a little bit scared to love surfing because I’ve been injured so many times, but this has been really nice.” Wright has been married to her wife, Lilli, who has been a source of support throughout her recovery and comeback.
Wright’s win marks a new chapter in her career, one that has been fraught with challenges and setbacks. But with this victory, she has proved to herself and the surfing world that she still has what it takes to compete at the highest level. As she looks ahead to future competitions, Wright has a renewed sense of purpose and joy that she has been missing for so long.
In an era where surfing is more accessible and inclusive than ever, Wright’s win is a reminder of the dedication, hard work, and perseverance required to succeed at the top level. Her story is an inspiration to surfers around the world, particularly women and minorities who face barriers and biases in the sport. Wright’s courage and resilience in the face of adversity have earned her a place among the greats in surfing, and her win in the Pipeline Pro is just the beginning of a new chapter in her illustrious career.
