‘Dust’: The Story Of Mikey Wright

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’.  

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. 

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.  

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