Tyler Wright Wins 2017 Oi Rio Women’s Pro
...and moves in to the number one position on the WSL Jeep Leaderboard.
Current Women’s World Champion Tyler Wright has just taken out the 2017 Oi Rio Women’s Pro, held in Saquarema, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. This win also means that Tyler has moved into the number one position on the WSL Jeep Leaderboard, tied an equal first with fellow Australian Stephanie Gilmore.
The lineup at Praia de Itauna offered up consistent two-to-three foot punchy walls all morning long today, and Tyler, alongside the rest of the women remaining in the draw, took full advantage. In her final heat against French competitor Johanne Defay, the current World Champion managed to wrack up a heat total of 17.17, with a high score of 9.67 – the final score that really sealed the deal on her win today.
In her semifinal heat (number 2) Tyler also was able to find the best waves of the 30-minute heat, and completed each ride with unrivalled power, flair and that signature Tyler Wright finesse. With two high waves of a 9.0 and an 8.87, she defeated a very in-form Sally Fitzgibbons and moved into a dominant position for the final.
Fellow Rip Curl team rider Nikki van Dijk also found success in Brazil this year, finishing in third place with a semifinal bow-out against Johanne Defay. Nikki played a pivotal role in the Oi Rio Women’s Pro this year, knocking out the 6x World Champion Stephanie Gilmore in the quarterfinals.
Stephanie has held on to the number one spot on the Jeep Leaderboard since the first event of the year at Snapper Rocks, and due to both her QF finish and Tyler’s win, she will now be sharing the coveted yellow jersey with our current World Champion, Tyler Wright.
Tyler not only won the Oi Rio Women’s Pro this year, her first event win of 2017, but she also knocked the 2017 World Title race right open.
Congratulations on your win, Tyler! And watch out, World Title...