Owen Wright Just Switched Board Sponsors

As a fledgling ripper bursting onto the professional scene, Owen Wright was nothing without the patented-airbushed Byrne under his feet. But as Owen grew into his own on the CT, he demanded the use of a different type of craft, so he tested the waters… heavily.

“At one point,” recalled Wright, “Before the [2014] Quiksilver Pro, there were 80 boards in my living room I was testing!”

Owen eventually landed on Jason Stevenson’s Coolangatta-based label, JS, as his board of choice and signed a contract before the 2014 season.

“This board with the craggy arm art defined Owen’s younger, and arguably most high-performance years.” (Photo: WSL)

The eldest Wright and the Byrne/ASL era. (Photo: WSL)

After some initial success (Owen won Fiji in 2015 with two perfect heats), Owen suffered an injury at Pipeline that sidelined him for an entire year. Returning in 2017, Owen won his first event back but faded back throughout the season, eventually finishing sixth on the CT rankings.

This year Owen sits at ninth on Tour, which isn’t bad by any means, but for someone who desires a World Title, it’s just not gonna cut it. Perhaps that’s why, starting at the 2018 Corona Pro J-Bay, Owen has officially transitioned from JS to Darren Handley’s DHD surfboard – ironically JS’s Gold Coast neighbour and his biggest board-building competition in Australia*.

“I started working with Darren on some boards leading up to the CT events in Bali and straight away I felt my surfing lift,” said Owen. “I am stoked to announce that I am now part of the DHD team and I’m looking forward to working with the people at DHD. Of course a World Title is what I am surfing for, you never know these boards may be what I need to get me over the line.”

“I have always had a huge amount of respect for Owen, he is an absolute professional and great guy to work with,” beams Darren Handley. “I feel that my experience can assist him climb the CT rankings, on top of that the crew at DHD are psyched to have Owen join us, so smiles all round.” (Photo: Ryan Miller)

DHD has made another big acquisition of late – this one of a company rather than an individual. Jackson Perry’s Modom, a hardware company from Victoria, was recently purchased by DHD for an undisclosed sum.

According to Jack, he’ll still own a share of the Modem business, which will remain running in parallel business as usual, and he will continue to manage the brand, while DHD will run sales and distribution.

Side note: Stab’s creative director, Shinya Dalby, relentlessly confesses his love for Modom’s foam shapes – particularly the Mondo – perhaps the success of their soft board designs contributed to the allure for the acquisition by Darren?

Will playing shaper switcheroo help achieve his Title-related desires? (Photo: Ryan Miller)

Foam geeks, here’s what Owen’s got on hand at J-Bay:

DNA

6′ 3″ x 18 3/4″ x 2 3/8″ at 28.5L – Tour Tail

6′ 3″ x 18 3/4″ x 2 3/8″ at 28.5L – Tour Tail

6′ 3 1/2″ x 18 3/4″ x 2 3/8″ at 28.5L – Tour Tail ( x3 )

DX1

6′ 2″ x 18 13/16″ x 2 3/8″ at 28.5L – Squash Tail

6′ 2 1/2 x 18 3/4″ x 2 3/8″ at 28.5L – Squash Tail

6′ 3″ x 18 3/4″ x 2 3/8″ at 28.5L – Squash Tail

6′ 3″ x 18 3/4″ x 2 3/8″ at 28.5L – Squash Tail

6′ 3 1/2 x 18 3/4″ x 2 3/8″ at 28.5L – Squash Tail ( x4 )

6′ 3 1/2 x 18 3/4″ x 2 3/8″ at 28.5L – Round Tail

Height 190cm / Weight 86 kg

*Worth noting: Despite Owen’s departure, brother Mikey will apparently maintain his allegiance to JS Surfboards.