21-year-old Australian Owen Wright has claimed his maiden ASP Dream Tour victory, taking out the inaugural Quiksilver Pro New York over Kelly Slater to earn the historic US $300,000 first-place prize purse in offshore 1-1.5-metre surf at Long Beach, New York.
The Quiksilver Pro New York Final marked a rematch between the two from the last stop on the ASP World Title Series in Teahupo’o, but today proved to be Wright’s day, claiming revenge on Slater in front of the capacity crowd in New York.
Wright wasted no time in the final, belting a 7.00, a 9.23, and an 8.00 in the opening minutes of the heat against Floridian Slater with a savage forehand attack on the clean lefthand walls, setting the bar too high for the reigning 10-time ASP World Champion to overcome.
“I’m just lapping it up right now,” Wright said. “I’ve always wanted to be in a final with Kelly (Slater) and last week at Teahupo’o was great. I think Kelly is ready for payback already. Thank you Long Beach, how good is this? Look at these waves! Thanks to Quiksilver, we’ve been looked after all week and they made it really easy for us and thanks for the $300,000!"
The Australian’s win moves him to No. 2 on the ASP World Title rankings behind Slater and he is now within striking distance of his first ASP World Title.
Alejo Muniz (BRA), 22, currently competing in his rookie year on the ASP World Title Series, was in impressive form throughout the entirety of Quiksilver Pro New York competition, but was unable to trump Wright in their semi-finals heat. Muniz’s equal third-placed finish marks his career-best result.
"This is the best result of my career,” Muniz (pictured, above) said. “The waves have been really fun and I've just been focusing on working through my heats. This is my first time to New York and I have had a great trip. I’m very excited to move to the next event. Thanks to all the people here who have been so nice.”
QUIKSILVER PRO NEW YORK QUARTER FINALS RESULTS:
QF 1: Taj Burrow (AUS) 14.77 def. Jadson Andre (BRA) 14.37
QF 2: Kelly Slater (AUS) 15.50 def. Josh Kerr (AUS) 15.00
QF 3: Alejo Muniz (BRA) 12.10 def. Heitor Alves (BRA) 10.10
QF 4: Owen Wright (AUS) 12.93 def. Julian Wilson (AUS) 12.44
QUIKSILVER PRO NEW YORK SEMI-FINALS RESULTS:
SF 1: Kelly Slater (USA) 19.07 def. Taj Burrow (AUS) 18.33
SF 2: Owen Wright (AUS) 14.84 def. Alejo Muniz (BRA) 9.63
QUIKSILVER PRO NEW YORK FINAL:
1 – Owen Wright (AUS) 17.90
2 – Kelly Slater (USA) 14.53
ASP WORLD TITLE TOP 10 (After Quiksilver Pro New York):
1. Kelly Slater (USA) 34,950 pts
2. Owen Wright (AUS) 31,900 pts
3. Joel Parkinson (AUS) 30,200 pts
4. Jordy Smith (ZAF) 27,000 pts
5. Adriano de Souza (BRA) 26,750 pts
6. Josh Kerr (AUS) 25,600 pts
7. Taj Burrow (AUS) 25,250 pts
8. Mick Fanning (AUS) 23,000 pts
9. Michel Bourez (PYF) 20,500 pts
10. Jeremy Flores (FRA) 19,700 pts
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