Olympic bronze medallist Owen Wright and seven-time world champ Stephanie Gilmore. | Photo: Steve Sherman/@tsherms

Olympic bronze medallist slams World Surf League over reintroduction of mid-tour cull in wild tirade, “It failed the first time and it’s failing again! I’d love for it never to happen again!”

"It's stupid and it shouldn't happen again!"

The surfing heartthrob and one-time title contender turned real estate developer, Owen Wright, has slammed the governing body of professional surfing, the billionaire-owned World Surf League, in an extraordinary spray. 

Speaking on the Lipped podcast, and alongside last year’s only Australian finalist Morgan Cibilic, Connor O’Leary and tour rookie Callum Robson, Wright who is thirty-two, spoke passionately about the mid-tour cut-off. 

“It failed the first time and it’s failing again,” said Wright, who is understandably touchy about the tour being cut in half given he’s currently in thirty-first position, equal, with last year’s world number five Cibilic. 

Continuing the tirade Wright said, “I’d love for it to never happen again in the future… I don’t know how it’s gone ahead. Every time it gets brought up it gets brushed under the carpet.”

Current world number fifteen Connor O’Leary ain’t impressed, either.

“Everyone’s against it. It’s a pretty stupid decision. No one really gets to really prove themselves. Five events happen so fast. It’s especially hard for  the rookies to get into any sort of rhythm. It’s stupid and it shouldn’t happen again.” 

Lovers of the mid-tour cull will point to 2011’s triumph when John John Florence, nineteen, and brave little Gabriel Medina, then seventeen, joined the tour mid-year as the jetsam was tossed overboard. 

Personally, I won’t rest until the tour is cut to eight surfers and events are run over the course of one day.

Many bridges to cross, then burn.

On this occasion, I stand with the WSL, prayers etc.

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Capt Sensible
Capt Sensible
4 years ago

Mid season cut off Jack Robinson will miss the cut.

Owen Wright's Brains
Owen Wright's Brains
4 years ago

Me win world title soon.

J H
J H
4 years ago

Perfect.

Swell Direction
Swell Direction
4 years ago

The commentators need to put Owen’s balls back in their mouths, he’s getting upset.

Black Rubber
Black Rubber
4 years ago

I think their recent round of layoffs suggested they aren’t a media company anymore, no? Back to this crappy league thing.

Black Rubber
Black Rubber
4 years ago

“Owen, your shitty performances are what the mid-year cut aims to get rid of.”

That explanation wasn’t so hard was it? Again, WSL, I am available to take ELo’s job or your Head of Communications. My resume is above.

Stick man
Stick man
4 years ago

Anyone else noticing this trend in random chicks liking your comments as soon as you post them? You guys buy a bunch of bots for Likes or some shit? Chas?? DR??

Stick man
Stick man
4 years ago

Joel Tourd

J H
J H
4 years ago

Look at Owen trying to culturally appropriate Bobby Martinez.

Black Rubber
Black Rubber
4 years ago
Reply to  J H

He’s doing a poor job. The Aussie version of Bobby should include way more swearing and without the use of “cunt” his attempt rings entirely hollow.

Doobalachy
Doobalachy
4 years ago

Yep im with owen, i dont know why everyone wants it compressed, if you dont wanna watch the early rounds dont watch till the 1/4’s.

J H
J H
4 years ago
Reply to  Doobalachy

What else am I supposed to do while sitting at my desk ALL FUCKING DAY???

Doobalachy
Doobalachy
4 years ago
Reply to  J H

Exactly

Sit down to pee
Sit down to pee
4 years ago

Don’t know why he’s bothered. He’s a Wright, he’ll get a wildcard.

Travis Edgar
Travis Edgar
4 years ago

Cuttin’ the rug cunt!..

Capt Sensible
Capt Sensible
4 years ago

Those performance based contracts can be sons of bitches cant they Owen old chap.

Blade
Blade
4 years ago

Gutsy article ,bravo

BennyB
BennyB
4 years ago

Dear Beach Grit
How hard is it to get your user experience right? Why do I read one article on Owen feeling jaded and get comments about Kelly and vaccinations. Happens all the time. This is so amateurish!
Perhaps instead of focusing your efforts on plastering shitty programmatic ads all over the page totally ruining the UX, maybe get the basics right!
Shouldn’t be too hard should it??

Low wide stinkbug stance
Low wide stinkbug stance
4 years ago
Reply to  BennyB

Usually happens if you’re on your phone and have bg open in two tabs.

Sit down to pee
Sit down to pee
4 years ago
Reply to  BennyB

It’s part of the charm

Doobalachy
Doobalachy
4 years ago
Reply to  BennyB

Go to the pool

LHS
LHS
4 years ago
Reply to  BennyB

Press the comments button when it’s still barely visible below the article.

channelbottom
channelbottom
4 years ago
Reply to  BennyB

It’s like the thrill of the unknown which surfing encapsulates. Epic barrel or dirty close out.

JSC
JSC
4 years ago

Well, at #31 he would say that – if Owen were in the Top 5 he would say how great the new system is and they should have done it this way all along.

Gil Gunderson
Gil Gunderson
4 years ago

Ricky Basnett
Drew Courtney
Bam Bam
Jihad Khodr
Marlon Lipke
Mar Ohno
Lee Winkler
Roy Powers

J H
J H
4 years ago
Reply to  Gil Gunderson

Kenny Powers?

longtomssecondcuztwiceremoved
longtomssecondcuztwiceremoved
4 years ago

“Every time it gets brought up it gets brushed under the carpet.”

The fcuk this cunt on about?

it was tried once in 2011 and hasn’t been seen until now.

Low wide stinkbug stance
Low wide stinkbug stance
4 years ago
Greeneable Mojo
Greeneable Mojo
4 years ago

Don’t they know it!

BSP
BSP
4 years ago

FFS, just lose the non elimination round. Fuck me, it’s such a fucking simple fix.


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