The small, grim conditions were outshone by an incredible display of surfing.

Culburra Beach’s brother and sister, Mikey and Tyler Wright made history as the first siblings to surf in dual finals of a World Surf League (WSL) Qualifying Series (QS) event.

Mikey eventually added his name to the winner's list alongside older sister Kirby, who saw success in Newcastle in 2010.  

Tyler came just short to Hawaii’s Coco Ho who took her second Surfest title.

The Burton Automotive Pro Final saw Mikey Wright post dual 9.00-point-range rides to combo Hawaii’s Barron Mamiya with a total of 18.20 and take the win.

Blasting a weak left-hander for five huge backhand hooks, Wright showed his incredible power base to post a 9.00 with over 25 minutes remaining; putting him a near-unbeatable position in the last heat of the day.

After taking out the nudie Australian Boardriders Battle at Newcastle Beach last weekend as part of the Culburra team, and sister Tyler in the women’s final at Surfest, Wright and his family have been on fire as of late, and the youngest sibling Mikey consolidated the good form with a 9.20 late in the heat to ensure success.

“The Burton Automotive Pro is the way we start the year so to walk away with a win is huge for me,” Mikey Wright said.

“Last year was my first full year doing the QS and this year I feel more ready because I learnt so much and I’m so much more determined.

“It was so good to have a final on at the same event as my sister Tyler.

“We’ve been hanging out, and having so much fun together.

“I will never forget this event.”

Mikey Wright now leads the men’s QS rankings and has started the year perfectly as he looks to qualify for the 2019 Championship Tour and join siblings Owen and Tyler on the elite ‘Dream Tour’.

“I’m feeling really good about this year and I really want to qualify and this event couldn't have gone any better for me,” he said.

“The QS is a long year and there’s loads of travelling, so it’s great to start with a win here in Australia.

“Newcastle has been good to me, my club won the Boardriders Battle last weekend and then I won here.

“I always have a good time in Newcastle.”

Hawaiian crowd favourite and 2011 Surfest champion, Coco Ho took out the Grandstand Sports Clinic Women’s Pro in a nail-biting final over reigning two-time world champion Tyler Wright.

Overcoming 2017 contest winner Johanne Defay, from France, in the quarterfinals, and 2009 champion and local favourite, Philippa Anderson in the semi-finals – Ho’s form was undeniable heading into the final.

Ho’s best finish on the CT, being a sixth place, came in 2011 after her first victory in Newcastle, and the girl from the North Shore of Oahu will be hoping to use the momentum from this early QS 6,000 victory for a serious CT push in 2018.

Electing to surf a bank 50 metres north of Ho, Wright’s heat never really got started, riding six waves before locking in anything over a 5.00-point ride.

However, the eventual champion Ho left the door open for the Culburra Beach surfer, failing to capitalise on early scoring rides, with both girls keeping busy; riding a total of 29 waves between them.

“I’m really happy with how this event has gone,” Tyler Wright said.  

“It was good to get into the contest mode and get some heat practice before the CT kicks off and making the final is definitely good for the confidence.

“I’m most happy about seeing Mikey in the final, regardless of if he wins or loses, I know how hard he has worked and how much he wants to make the CT so seeing him in the final is amazing.

“Him winning this event shows how important hard work and commitment is.”