JUST over a week after clinching her maiden World Surf League (WSL) title, Tyler Wright is already looking towards the future with the plan of heading to the Sydney International Women’s Pro Qualifying Series (QS) 6,000 event in Cronulla.
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Wright will be there to check out not only the action from the newest WSL event on the calendar but also some of her potential rivals on next year’s Championship Tour (CT).
“It’s going to be great to see the field that this event will attract to Australia in the backend of the year,” Wright said.
“Having a lot of the CT girls backing up their spot on tour along with a new crop will be cool to watch.”
With the newest QS event on the WSL calendar being the brainchild of fellow CT competitor and current world number eight Sally Fitzgibbons, 22-year-old World Champion Wright is inspired by the efforts of her CT rival.
"Starting your own event would be an incredible amount of work, and it's really cool that Sally's supporting the sport and taking it on,” Wright said.
“And the fact that it's bringing the last QS of the year back home to Australia is pretty special too."
Fitzgibbons, who is in no way looking like slowing down her competitive career, has seen the opportunity of creating an event like this as a way to give back to not only the surfing community but also celebrate the internationally recognised Australian beach culture.
“I've always had a vision of creating this ultimate event that celebrates what I love about the sport and to champion our Aussie beach culture,” Fitzgibbons said.
“I love that surfing brings people together; strangers and families both young and old. I wanted to create an event where people challenge themselves and support one another and have fun being active and outdoors.”
In previous years, the final QS6,000 rated event was completed in early September meaning that the following seasons CT rookies would be decided six months before it began.
This event brings the race for qualifying points to later in the year and back to Australian shores for the first time in years.
“I personally love this time of year, the race for valuable points and to grab one of those elusive World Surf League spots, there is so much on the line,” Fitzgibbons said.
“There are always clutch performances, buzzer beaters, triumphs and heartbreak when coming so close.
“Securing the opportunity to host the last QS6,000 on the calendar is something I'm very excited about. I want to get the women into the best waves possible for a grandstand finish.”
