Tyler Wright is feeling the love as the Australian surfing great returns to Bells Beach, the scene of some of the finest moments in her storied professional career.
The two-time Rip Curl Pro winner aims to put her season back on track over the next few days as she chases a third world title.
Wright posted the second-best wave score of the women’s opening round — an 8.17 — as she won her heat and progressed to the round of 16.
After opening the season with a win at Hawaii’s Pipe Pro in February, Wright has not made a semi-final in the following three events and was bundled out in the round of 16 last week in El Salvador.
But on Good Friday, she delivered a heat score of 14.84 to defeat Canadian Erin Brooks and Brazilian Luana Silva in two to four foot conditions at Bells.
“It feels so calming … the gap between events, the turnaround is pretty tough — it is like a warm hug coming home here,” Wright said.
“I was actually really disappointed with El Salvador. My surfing in the free surf was really good and then the heat, I wasn’t super-impressed. My boards feel great and I feel fit and strong.”
“You get to the point in your career where I’m happy to be healthy and surfing here. I love it.”
Only Hawaiian Gabriela Bryan, fresh off her El Salvador win, posted better scores — a heat total of 15.50 and a top wave of 8.33.
Competitors have strong mixed emotions about Bells Beach, given how tough it is to win. But Wright, a long-time visitor, has connected with the local Indigenous community, which has strong ties to the event.
“I feel like it carries so much weight,” she said.
“For everyone that’s been raised here, for everyone that’s been coming down to Wadawurrung country — I’ve been coming down here since, I think, 2006 maybe, and so being here at Djarrak, I think it does something to your soul.”
“It’s a true honour and pleasure to just be welcomed here. We had such a beautiful welcome to country yesterday.”
While Wright was in her happy place, organisers were less content after conditions deteriorated in the afternoon. Although they had scheduled the men’s opening round and women’s elimination heats, only one men’s heat was completed before the call was made to suspend competition for the day.
Also on Friday, world number one and defending champion Caitlin Simmers (USA) won her heat, while Australian rival Molly Picklum advanced to the round of 16 despite finishing second to compatriot Ellie Harrison.
Picklum has reached at least the semi-finals in all four WSL rounds so far this season and narrowly avoided elimination.
Harrison is competing at Bells as a replacement for Brazilian star Tatiana Weston-Webb, who is taking a break from the tour due to mental health.
Among other Australian women, El Salvador runner-up Isabella Nichols and Sally Fitzgibbons advanced, while Carly Shanahan heads to the elimination round.
Organisers hope for improved conditions Saturday as competition resumes at the iconic break.
