- Stab Magazine

Where's Owen?

The Hurley Burleigh pro is the wealthiest junior contest in surfing's history. It's due to start tomorrow but the comp's undoubted favourite, Owen Wright, won't be collecting his contest singlet. After a disappointing world juniors he's escaped to get some barrels and clear his head. Rip Curl's international team manager, Gary Dunne, explained, "He was number one seed and takes pride in that stuff. He was bitterly disappointed to lose. Actually, he was just really pissed off. He's won the Hurley event before and didn't want to miss this swell opportunity in the North Pacific (Tahiti, but Rip Curl don't like to expose breaks)." He leaves the opportunity to claim $USD25,000 to a host of other competitors. Among them is Currumbin's Mitch Crews. Mitch spoke to Stab as he surveyed the contest site this morning.

Stab: Owen Wright's gone, what do you think his odds of winning were?

Mitch: (Laughs) Fuck, we're all stoked. He wins everything, he would have been the favourite for sure. He's the favourite of anything I guess. I'm pretty stoked that he's not in it now. It gives one of us a chance to try and win it.

Especially yourself 'cause you're from the area, you'd surf it more than a lot of other competitors.

Yeah I surf it a fair bit when it's pumping.

Is he the talk amongst all the juniors going in?

Yeah, that was the first thing on everyone's lips when they arrived, Owen pulling out. It gives us all a bit of confidence but you've still got to beat the best if you want to win, so even if he was here it wouldn't really make too much of a difference to trying to win it.

But it brings the 25 gees of American paper a little closer.

Yeah definitely, the door goes wide open. Last year he won it in knee high fast little rights and being like a tall gangly goofy-footer we're all thinking, "Nah, he'll struggle out here." But sure enough he won it last year and I think that's what the conditions are gonna be like this year so he could have done the exact thing. There's a lot of guys really ripping though. It's going to be interesting to see who's gonna take it out. - Mike Jennings

Robert's Your Mother's Brother
Posts: 12

MGMT Comment
Reply #12 on : Thu January 28, 2010, 04:26:10

@ MGMT Agree 100%.

And I liked Jennings' comment about '(Tahiti, but Rip Curl don't like to expose breaks)'

Does anyone really believe that ANY of these companies aren't about greed, power and cash, no matter how 'soulful' they were when they started out. They'd throw their mum's under a bus for a 'profit'.

Jack
Posts: 12

Re:
Reply #11 on : Fri January 22, 2010, 17:10:07

They all started in Round 1 Dave. As do all the CT guys when they run that format.

dave
Posts: 12

facts
Reply #10 on : Fri January 22, 2010, 16:25:25

once again guys when will you get your facts straight? owen was starting from round one - last time i checked this is along way from being the number one seed, lets give the kudos when due to the real number one seed who is Davey Cathels and would have been owen there or not. a simple google search would have confirmed this for you!

floater
Posts: 12

Re:
Reply #9 on : Fri January 22, 2010, 11:58:08

hahahahahaha Hatteras of course occy's never had an ankle problem like the kids these days. can't recall too many of them getting injured doing a cutback or floater

Jack D
Posts: 12

Re:
Reply #8 on : Fri January 22, 2010, 11:45:24

Owen Wright has bigger fish to fry this year- He's on the ASP tour this year for fuck sake. I'd be pissed off as well in the shit he had to surf in at Narrabeen, against 40kilo spider monkeys.

Anonymous
Posts: 12

benny is right
Reply #7 on : Fri January 22, 2010, 11:43:18

noo not really

I thought Jaddie was the one hurt, like, bad...be a professional, go do the shit you suppose to!

What?? Two loses in a row would be too heavy?? Better go clear my mind..

Come on! Throw a big brazilian claim after a wank hit your chest hard and yell "bring it on!!

Hatteras Dunebilly
Posts: 12

Weak Ankles?
Reply #6 on : Fri January 22, 2010, 05:56:59

What's with all these pro's and their ankle problems? You never heard of Occy with that problem. Why? Because he has legs like tree trunks. And he knew when to float and when not too.

Anonymous
Posts: 12

Re:
Reply #5 on : Fri January 22, 2010, 00:27:31

Sorry Benny, I'm sarcastic, that's my very nature. I don't like it, I know you're right but there is something bad in me, I can't help it...
Of course I shouldn't say this, the kid is wonderful, he rips, he's nice, and I'm an old overweight fart with a moustache...I'm so ashame, will you pardon me? Benny? Are you still there? I think I love you, Benny...

Anonymous
Posts: 12

MGMT
Reply #4 on : Thu January 21, 2010, 22:30:51

I could be wrong but I am not a fan of the entourage thing that is going on in surfing right now. From what I have seen Kelly never travelled with the full support crew in tow.

My opininion is part of Parko's undoing was exactly this. From what I read it sounded like Billabong had every man and his dog along for the ride, talk about extra pressure.

Gary Dunne seems to be a permanent fixture with Owen, meeting him at the waters edge, speaking on his behalf, seriously the kid surfs, how much of a managemement team does it take?

Thoughts?

Benny
Posts: 12

Re:
Reply #3 on : Thu January 21, 2010, 22:01:29

you two have to got be fucking kidding dont you? Once you've put your efforts into something over a stretch of 2 or 3 years like Owen has with the world junior crown and felt the weight of public hype and expectation like he did, then to lose out with all of that surrounding you. You may come back here and talk your sarcastic shit. Not so keen anymore? Shiiiiit, beat it.

Anonymous
Posts: 12

Re:
Reply #2 on : Thu January 21, 2010, 21:27:44

Great for the other surfers...Each time His Excellency Owen Wright won't win an event, they're sure he'll miss the next one...I wonder how many comps His Majesty will do in 2010...?

sd
Posts: 12

Re:
Reply #1 on : Thu January 21, 2010, 19:17:05

Sounds like a new Mick Fanning to me.. Christ, I thought Owen would be rather mature about whether he wins or loses. Too serious, tsk tsk tsk.

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