Stab Magazine | Owen Wright wins the 2015 Fiji Pro

Live Now — Episode 3 Of Surf100 Challenge Series Presented By Pacifico

229 Views

Owen Wright wins the 2015 Fiji Pro

“Oh my,” was all Martin Potter could manage as Owen Wright, already sitting on a 17.10 combined total in the final of the 2015 Fiji Pro against Julian Wilson, found an exit on a perfect 10 – his third of the event. He’d then paddle out to steam through yet another perfect score. Owen was the standout performer at this event, clocking a perfect 20 heat yesterday, and winning the final with another perfect 20 heat today. ‘History’ is a word we usually try to avoid, but… Owen really did make it today. “Something special was happening out there today,” said Owen. “Its just perfect, you can’t really say much more.” Observations below by Damien Fahrenfort… Owen Wright. Holy shit, wasn’t that a treat? Two 20-point heats. I’m really stoked to see Owen break the spell and get a win, especially like that. It’s actually quite unusual when someone peaks like he did yesterday and then win the comp, they usually have a shocker the next day, sorta use up their good karma. But not Owen, he pulled through. As incredible as his barrel riding was, his turns were almost better. He was holding his line and slamming the lip straight outta the barrel. Where a lot of guys would come out with so much speed they’d have to cut back, Owen managed to do what Slater does and come out the front into a bottom turn. Webcast doesn’t quite do it justice, uh? WSL/Kirstin Jules, hey. If Julian never wins a title it will be more of a shame than TB not ever winning one. The guy is so incredible in every condition. His no-hands barrel in the quarters into that closeout was as well ridden as John John or Kelly would’ve done. He charges as hard as anyone on tour and then has the airs to back it up. I really hope this event sets him up for a good run the rest of the year, because he really lacks consistency and I just want to see him surf. Photo: WSL/Stephen Robertson Kai Ottz. Bless his soul. He had a serious dig in the quarters and unfortunately got hurt. Good to hear he didn’t get too destroyed. Ottz was surfing really well this event and looked like he had more energy than usual. Only bummer is, he’s gotta get some more meat on those bones. He looks a bit weak compared to some of the guys but he does a great job of figuring out how to get around this. WSL/Kirstin Flores… Some of the best surfing done this week was by Jeremy and I was really stoked to hear his interview after the semis. Where he’d usually be pissed off and blame someone or something for losing he stepped up said he shouldn’t have fallen and that might have been the difference. Those JS boards look great under his feet and I think he’s gonna have a great rest of the year. Fiji Pro Final Results:1: Owen Wright (AUS) 20.002: Julian Wilson (AUS) 7.84 Fiji Pro Semifinal Results:SF 1: Julian Wilson (AUS) 11.50 def. Taj Burrow (AUS) 8.66SF 2: Owen Wright (AUS) 16.93 def. Jeremy Flores (FRA) 16.57 Fiji Pro Quarterfinal Results:QF 1: Julian Wilson (AUS) 17.36 def. Italo Ferreira (BRA) 17.00QF 2: Taj Burrow (AUS) 13.37 def. Wiggolly Dantas (BRA) 7.40QF 3: Owen Wright (AUS) 16.60 def. Joel Parkinson (AUS) 12.84QF 4: Jeremy Flores (FRA) 16.83 def. Kai Otton (AUS) 12.90 2015 WSL Jeep Leaderboard Top 5 (after Fiji Pro): Adriano de Souza (BRA) 28,000 pts Filipe Toledo (BRA) 27,450 pts Owen Wright (AUS) 26,250 pts Mick Fanning (AUS) 24,950 pts Julian Wilson (AUS) 23,450 pts **** Want a little piece of Fiji yourself? You’re in luck. Corona is taking over Namotu Island for seven days and looking for one very, very lucky winner to handpick nine pals and come along for the ride.  You’ll surf til you can’t surf anymore and then drink from an endless supply of icy cold Corona. Life, eh?  To win, just go buy a Corona at selected venues across Australia in June, head here, enter your details and unique product code to get in the mix with a chance to win. ENTER HERE

news // Mar 8, 2016
Words by Stab
Reading Time: 3 minutes

“Oh my,” was all Martin Potter could manage as Owen Wright, already sitting on a 17.10 combined total in the final of the 2015 Fiji Pro against Julian Wilson, found an exit on a perfect 10 – his third of the event. He’d then paddle out to steam through yet another perfect score. Owen was the standout performer at this event, clocking a perfect 20 heat yesterday, and winning the final with another perfect 20 heat today. ‘History’ is a word we usually try to avoid, but… Owen really did make it today.

“Something special was happening out there today,” said Owen. “Its just perfect, you can’t really say much more.”

Observations below by Damien Fahrenfort…

Owen Wright.
Holy shit, wasn’t that a treat? Two 20-point heats. I’m really stoked to see Owen break the spell and get a win, especially like that. It’s actually quite unusual when someone peaks like he did yesterday and then win the comp, they usually have a shocker the next day, sorta use up their good karma. But not Owen, he pulled through. As incredible as his barrel riding was, his turns were almost better. He was holding his line and slamming the lip straight outta the barrel. Where a lot of guys would come out with so much speed they’d have to cut back, Owen managed to do what Slater does and come out the front into a bottom turn.

Webcast doesn't quite do it justice, uh? WSL/Kirstin

Webcast doesn’t quite do it justice, uh? WSL/Kirstin

Jules, hey.
If Julian never wins a title it will be more of a shame than TB not ever winning one. The guy is so incredible in every condition. His no-hands barrel in the quarters into that closeout was as well ridden as John John or Kelly would’ve done. He charges as hard as anyone on tour and then has the airs to back it up. I really hope this event sets him up for a good run the rest of the year, because he really lacks consistency and I just want to see him surf.

Photo: WSL/Stephen Robertson

Photo: WSL/Stephen Robertson

Kai Ottz.
Bless his soul. He had a serious dig in the quarters and unfortunately got hurt. Good to hear he didn’t get too destroyed. Ottz was surfing really well this event and looked like he had more energy than usual. Only bummer is, he’s gotta get some more meat on those bones. He looks a bit weak compared to some of the guys but he does a great job of figuring out how to get around this.

Jeremy_Fiji_Replacemtne

WSL/Kirstin

Flores…
Some of the best surfing done this week was by Jeremy and I was really stoked to hear his interview after the semis. Where he’d usually be pissed off and blame someone or something for losing he stepped up said he shouldn’t have fallen and that might have been the difference. Those JS boards look great under his feet and I think he’s gonna have a great rest of the year.

Fiji Pro Final Results:
1: Owen Wright (AUS) 20.00
2: Julian Wilson (AUS) 7.84

Fiji Pro Semifinal Results:
SF 1: Julian Wilson (AUS) 11.50 def. Taj Burrow (AUS) 8.66
SF 2: Owen Wright (AUS) 16.93 def. Jeremy Flores (FRA) 16.57

Fiji Pro Quarterfinal Results:
QF 1: Julian Wilson (AUS) 17.36 def. Italo Ferreira (BRA) 17.00
QF 2: Taj Burrow (AUS) 13.37 def. Wiggolly Dantas (BRA) 7.40
QF 3: Owen Wright (AUS) 16.60 def. Joel Parkinson (AUS) 12.84
QF 4: Jeremy Flores (FRA) 16.83 def. Kai Otton (AUS) 12.90

2015 WSL Jeep Leaderboard Top 5 (after Fiji Pro):
Adriano de Souza (BRA) 28,000 pts
Filipe Toledo (BRA) 27,450 pts
Owen Wright (AUS) 26,250 pts
Mick Fanning (AUS) 24,950 pts
Julian Wilson (AUS) 23,450 pts

****

Want a little piece of Fiji yourself? You’re in luck. Corona is taking over Namotu Island for seven days and looking for one very, very lucky winner to handpick nine pals and come along for the ride. 

You’ll surf til you can’t surf anymore and then drink from an endless supply of icy cold Corona. Life, eh? 

To win, just go buy a Corona at selected venues across Australia in June, head here, enter your details and unique product code to get in the mix with a chance to win.

ENTER HERE

Comments

Comments are a Stab Premium feature. Gotta join to talk shop.

Already a member? Sign In

Want to join? Sign Up

Advertisement

Most Recent

Correction: J-Bay All Foreplay, No Climax

Slim pickings on Day 1 of the Corona Cero Open J-Bay 2025.

Jul 11, 2025

What Do Hollywood, Surf Lessons, Michael Jackson And Traction Pads Have In Common?

A Stab Interview with Teva Dexter, the man behind surfing's hardest new hardware brand —…

Jul 10, 2025

Surf100 Challenge Series Presented By Pacifico: Episode 3

"The tribe has spoken," Dane Reynolds pronounced, and a surfer's torch was snuffed.

Jul 10, 2025

How Josh Ku Nearly Died Trying To Cross From Ulus to G Land by Hydrofoil

“If someone finds me dead at least they can find my phone and know what…

Jul 10, 2025

Expect No Kiss, All Climax At The “World’s Most Perfect Pointbreak”

A Corona Cero Open J-Bay 2025 preview.

Jul 9, 2025

SEOTY: Liam O’Brien stars in ‘Friction of Perception’

"Hopefully I don’t come across like too much of a peanut."

Jul 8, 2025

10 Shapers To Watch In The Next 10 Years — Part One

“It’s like a drug empire, man. Cut the head off the snakes, and more will…

Jul 7, 2025

Mason Ho Joins Ritual Vision, Releases Remix Of Greatest Hits

Dion Agius riffs on the eyewear brand’s U.S. expansion, Ritualistic Tendencies, and the new stars…

Jul 7, 2025

Is It Time For A New Judging Format?

We have a modest proposal — a WSL head judge disagrees.

Jul 7, 2025

Luke Thompson Turns Last Year’s Priority Disaster Into Ballito Gold

+ earns himself a wildcard into Jbay.

Jul 7, 2025

Fiji Has Its First Professional Surfer, And He’s Unbelievable

16-year-old James Kusitino’s incomprehensible tube lounging leads to a deal with Former.

Jul 6, 2025

Laird Hamilton on The Limitations of Being a Purist, Invention vs. Ownership + Why He Never Had a Sticker Deal 

Untold stories from his How Surfers Get Paid interview.

Jul 4, 2025

When Surfer’s Eye Is Actually Cancer

Erin Campbell's brutal journey from surf camp dreams to chemo drops, cryotherapy, and surgical horror.

Jul 3, 2025

Surfing’s 2025 Q2 Report

An assessment of surfing's vital signs throughout the second quarter of 2025.

Jul 2, 2025

What Actually Happened to Occy’s Mad Max Plunger Pool In Yeppoon?

Surf Lakes’ brass talks: internet hecklers, the unplugging of the plunger, and the Tom Curren…

Jul 2, 2025

Poor Goofy Foots 

Data shows that the world is stacked against goofs — they even make 15% less money than…

Jul 1, 2025

Britain’s First Wavepool Has Closed — What Really Happened?

Bankruptcy, social media hackings, debts unpaid — and yet, reopening looms.

Jul 1, 2025

Watch: Was Matt Meola’s Air Actually Better Than Hughie’s?

Watch the full Swatch Nines highlight reel and decide.

Jun 30, 2025
Advertisement