Mikey Wright has been on a tear this year. Not many sixteen year olds can boast such an extensive travel diary that has chased swells from Hawaii, Tahiti, Micronesia, WA, Indonsia and Japan. The youngest of the Wright clan is routinely putting on performances that are being measured mature beyond his years.
Tracks recently caught up with Mikey at home as he prepares for the Junior Australian Titles.
Mikey lights up a local reef with a serious punt during a recent swell. Photo by www.sticksphotography.com.au
Q. Mikey tell us where you’ve been this year?
This year I traveled to a lot of great places. In January I hit Hawaii for a month then I went straight to P-Pass, after that the Quiksilver Pro at Snapper. Then I flew across to Western Australia, followed by a trip to Bali and Lakey Peak. It looked like I was headed to Nias but Dean Bowen was saying there is a crazy swell hitting Tahiti so I went over there instead to surf Teahupoo. After Chopes I went with Deano to Gnarloo then back home for a little while before I went to Bali with Steph Gilmore and Leonardo Fioravanti where we visited Lakey Peak again. I just got back from America with my two sisters Kirby and Tyler. Now I’m preparing for the Australian titles down the South Coast. It’s been a massive year of travel for me.
Q. You surfed some giant Pipe and scored a huge swell in Tahiti. Why do you think you feel so comfortable in big surf?
I’m not really sure why I feel so comfortable in big surf; I think one part of the reason is that I grew up with older brothers (Tim and Owen) down the South Coast. They pushed me pretty hard and would always make me go the closeouts. Tahiti was definitely not a comfortable place for me I had to dig really deep to go those waves.
Q. You went to Japan and entered your first WQS and came second. Tell us about that?
Yeah I thought I might as well go over there and give it a crack. I really had to surf to my best ability to get through that event which paid off so I was pretty happy.
Mikey, mid flight plotting his next tropical getaway no doubt. Photo by www.sticksphotography.com.au
Q. Having watched Owen and Tyler’s career unfold what have you learnt of their approach?
What I’ve learnt is that you just have to keep on having fun and don’t allow society to change how you really are. I’ve also learnt a lot about heat strategies and preparation, oh and to also stay-uninjured hahaha.
Q. You were invited on a trip to Indonesia with Mick Fanning earlier this year tell us what you learnt from a 2x world champion
That trip was a lot of fun we went over there to enjoy ourselves and surfed a lot. Andy King was also there with us, so it was pretty good to get some tips off both him and Mick. I was working on making my turns smooth and more vertical.
Q. What have you been working on this year with your surfing?
To have fun while surfing has been what I have worked on the most, then my as I said above smoothing out my turns, sorting my hacks and throwing some airs.
Q. Has watching Owen struggle with injuries this year changed the way you approach looking after yourself?
Yeah for sure, I have definitely learnt that it’s so easy to hurt yourself and it takes so long to get back into the water. You need to look after your body.
Will we see Mikey competing on the World Tour with older brother Owen in the years to come? Photo by www.sticksphotography.com.au
Q. Sixteen is usually the age you go through a massive growth spurt. How has all that growth been affecting your surfing and what adjustments have you had to make?
Yeah I have definitely grown a lot this year and it has affected my turns and airs, but my boards were the biggest adjustment. They are always changing and getting bigger!
Q. You have the Australian Junior Titles coming up on the South Coast, not far from where you grew up. What would a win there mean to you?
Just like a win anywhere else. I don’t really surf the main breaks where the comp is on, so I am going to approach it just be like a normal contest. I’m just happy because I don’t have to travel very far now that I live in Gerringong.
