Why Is Owen Wright Sleeping In His Car The Night Before The Finals?

At the 2018 Quik Pro Snapper, Julian Wilson was victorious despite a litany of factors against him. First and foremost was his separated shoulder, which, on top of keeping Julian out of the water for the previous six weeks, made it incredibly painful to paddle against the Superbank’s notorious current. Next was his newborn daughter Olivia, who came kicking and screaming into the world less than two weeks before the event. While Julian’s job beckoned, he didn’t want to miss anything at home with his child, which is why he decided to drive three hours in each direction between his Sunny Coast home and the comp site every single day. That meant a 4 am departure on the morning of the final, after what one can assume was a night of constant wake-up calls due to the baby. 

But despite his rustiness, pain, and sleep deprivation (or perhaps because of it?), Julian walked away with a win at Snapper, earning him $100,000 and the coveted yellow singlet.

While Julian lost early at Bells, it’s possible that another new(ish) Tour Daddy will be following in his footsteps later today.

Last night, via his Instagram, Owen Wright explained why he will be sleeping in his car the night before Finals Day. 

The text reads: Last nights bed and tonight’s.. back of a commo wagon! I used to sleep in the back of a car for the 10 yrs before I qualified and now I’ve gone full circle. Bringing back some good memories haha last year I was a new sleep deprived Dad competing on tour… this year I’ve learnt and got myself a sound proof room next to the house. Thanks @kitaalexander for allowing me this luxurious sanctuary while you wake every hr to our coughing crying angel! #dadlife#mumlife #tourlife bring on finals day @wsl

This car-sleeping system, while not ideal, is the type of compromise that parents must make to ensure a healthy, happy existence for both themselves and their offspring. The concept of a superstar surfer sleeping in his car the night before a major competition may seem ridiculous, but it just goes to show how Owen is dually committed to his career and his family. The Aussie could have gone to Bells without Kita and Vali, which would have helped avoid the sleepless nights, but it’s likely that their love and support supersede these negative consequences, leading to Owen’s second quarterfinal berth in as many contests. 

While it might be logistically easier to leave the fam at home, the prospect of missing out on a moment like this–where all parts of love and happiness collide–would be stripping yourself of life’s greatest pleasures.

Life is a balancing act, and despite the fact that a six-foot-three Owen Wright is currently cooped up in an automobile, attempting to get some much-needed rest before a huge day at Bells, I’d say he’s walking the line quite well. 

Don’t be surprised if he blitzes Mick this morning, then goes on to win the whole damn contest.