Stab Magazine | 'Dust': The Story Of Mikey Wright

Live Now — Premium Peek — Episode 4 Of Surf100 Challenge Series Presented By Pacifico

571 Views

‘Dust’: The Story Of Mikey Wright

Surfer, not ‘pro surfer’. 

cinema // Apr 4, 2019
Words by stab
Reading Time: 3 minutes

Mikey Wright needs no introduction. But we made a film about him, so we better give him one. 

Prior to 2018, Mikey could’ve and would’ve been labelled as the anti-comp sibling among the Wrights. The youngest of a trio (Mikey’s still only 22), Mikey seemed the odd one out compared to his trophy wielding brother and sister. Owen, now 29, is a consistent top-10 finisher, and may have had hopes at a world title if not for his landlocking head injury in 2015. His sister Tyler already has two titles to her name at 24, and the only obstacle to her defending a third – well, aside from a stellar Steph Gilmore – was a severe case of influenza which sidelined her in J-Bay and will keep her out until the midway mark this year. 

Although it’s not public knowledge, until now, Mikey was also plagued with injury in 2018.  

Mikey tweaked his hip hitting the reef at Volcom Pipe Pro in February last year. Those watching the webcast, or even just the highlights, might recall the fall, but few knew the lingering impact an

Snapper rolled around and Quik threw Mikey a spot in their eponymous year opener. At his third wildcard at the event Mikey took out reigning champ John Florence and followed through by knocking off Gabriel Medina in Round 3. Mikey surfed with the same raw approach as always, just a little more considered and careful than the reckless abandon witnessed in his ‘freesurfing’ clips ‘Root’ and ‘Rage’.  

 

 

action 3

Does he stomp it? Watch the clip.

The next eight months of Mikey’s life consisted of eight, heavily contested and hotly debated, wildcard spots. Mikey surfed damn well throughout most of these: notching up two 3rd places, a 5th, with a handful of 13th’s. To the average spectator, it seemed as if Mikey’s surfing and competitive strive had coincided perfectly with some fruitful invitations, but to Mikey, he was just scraping through heat by heat to make the tour.

“I kinda stopped freesurfing I just only surfed heats. And then as soon as I qualified in France, I took the rest of the year off and that was the last time I surfed until [February]” Mikey said. 

action 2

Insert sexual innuendo here.

The above clip, titled ‘DUST’ (you can probably guess why) dives a little deeper on Mr. Michael Wright. We hear his side of the 2018 qualification process, his inspiration during grommethood, his outlook and approach to competition, his passion for his Landy, and as cliché as it sounds, a touch of the personal philosophy which Mikey abides by. It’s all cut between snippets of surfing; some seen, some unseen. 

Anyway, watch the clip. This isn’t a printed profile.  

DSCF7060

Michael Wright, as expected.

Board Bonus!

In case you’re interested. Here’s a list of what Mikey was riding throughout the piece:

(0:10)

FMN2 

6’0” x 18 3/4” x 2 3/8” x 27.6L

(0:32)

Monsta 8

6’0” x 18 3/4” x 2 5/16” x 27.2L

 

(0:46)

HYFI Monsta 8

6’0” x 18 3/4” x 2 5/16” x 26.9L

Pipe (1:53)

FMN2 

6’4” x 18 3/4” x 2 7/16” x 29.6L

(2:39)

Monsta 8

6’0” x 18 3/4” x 2 5/16” x 27.2L

(9:03)

Monsta 8 

6’0” x 18 3/4” x 2 5/16” x 27.2L

P-Pass (9:57)

FMN2 

6’2” x 18 3/4” x 2 7/16” x 28.8L

 

Fiji (10:32)

FMN2 

6’1” x 18 3/4” x 2 3/8” x 27.9L

 

Fiji (10:38)

Black Baron twin 

5’5” x 19 3/4” x 2 5/16” x 27.5L

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

Power Surfing Isn’t Dead

Connor O'Leary & Gabriela Bryan assert their strength at rifling J-Bay, win their first and…

Jul 18, 2025

WSL Changes Fiji Format One Month Before Finals — Carissa Moore And CJ Hobgood React

"Does it really matter at this point?"

Jul 18, 2025

Surf100 Challenge Series Presented By Pacifico: Episode 4

Our surfers' most dreaded challenge: The Zero Sum Game.

Jul 17, 2025

“My Feet Are Completely Fucked. I Didn’t Expect Them To Get This Infected And Mouldy.”

A mid-world record check-in with Blakey Johnston.

Jul 17, 2025

Why The Surf Industry’s Kingmakers Are Betting On Florence

Pat O’Connell and Evan Slater on why ex-Volcom, Billabong and Hurley CEOs are riding shotgun.

Jul 16, 2025

Mixed Symmetry — The Surfboards Of Milk & Honey 

As told by Stephanie Gilmore, Caity Simmers, Coco Ho, and Frankie Harrer

Jul 16, 2025

Cloud 9 Becomes First Surf Break To Outlaw Beginner Surf Lessons

Time to make it a universal ruling at sketchy reef breaks? A local photographer explains.

Jul 15, 2025

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

A few more foam craftsmen worth keeping on your radar.

Jul 14, 2025

Watch: Rip Curl Mobilises Its Teenage Army In ‘Dunno’

A 30-minute surf film by Vaughan Blakey and Nick Pollet.

Jul 14, 2025

There’s A New Number One Surfer In The World

And it feels so right.

Jul 13, 2025

Controversial Opinion: No One Needs To Yoga In Boardshorts

8 Trunks for the traditionalist.

Jul 13, 2025

Stab Edit Of The Year: Sam Piter Stars in ‘Rogue DNA’.

French blood, thick water.

Jul 13, 2025

Matty McG Skydives Into CT Heat, But Jordy’s Still The Main Event

A full day of heats at J-Bay, and only one shark warning.

Jul 12, 2025

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
Advertisement