Torquay, AUSTRALIA - Wednesday, 25 February 2015 - On the eve of the World Surf League kickoff on the Gold Coast this week, Rip Curl is stoked to announce new long term sponsorship agreements with hard-ripping goofy footer Owen Wright and 3 x World Champion Tom Curren.
Wright, 25, who came back to form last season, finishing 12th in the world after a long layoff in 2013, is fired up for the upcoming season, and has been revelling in the pumping Gold Coast conditions.
"It's been pumping for over a week. I've been surfing my brains out and getting a feel for the banks from Snapper to Kirra. I've been doing a lot of work out of the water too so in the lead up to the first event, I feel like I have a really great balance between training and surfing," Wright said.
The surfing world can expect to see a big year ahead for the Culburra-based goofy foot as he sets his sites on the WSL top rung and ultimately the world title.
"I want to be challenging for finals and challenging for the world title at the end of the year, I'm learning all the time always trying to get better. My boards are great and I'm ready to charge when I'm freesurfing too."
Wright has been with Rip Curl for 14 years since signing as an 11-year-old.
Check out Wright in the clip (above) from a recent Search trip where he tested his new wetsuit model in the chilly waters of South Africa.
3 x World Champion Tom Curren, the legendary American actually signed his new deal on the beach at the Pipeline Masters while watching Gabriel Medina take out the 2014 world crown in December. As relaxed as ever after great winter surfing on the North Shore, Curren was happy to sign with his feet planted firmly in the sand as the heats rolled by, excited by pro surfing and his future.
"We have a good thing going together at Rip Curl," Curren said. "There's a lot of things happening for the brand around the world and I feel like I've been a part of that for a long time. I want to keep surfing as much as I can, but I also want to be involved with the kids and with giving wherever I can on surfing and what it means to the Curl. I'll be out there on The Search this year too."
Rip Curl Head of Marketing Neil Ridgway said announcing the signings put a nice shine on things the week before the 2015 WSL tour starts.
"Having Tom around is special. He's a 3 x world champ and has a lot to offer everybody and you never know quite what you'll get so that's interesting. Owen's different. He's on the cusp of hitting his full pro potential, he's got what it takes to win events and go all the way. You know he's going to go out and charge no matter what. The good thing about both of them is they do it with a smile on their face and that's great. It's surfing, it's meant to be fun."
Watch the Rip Curl team including 3 x World Champion Mick Fanning, Owen Wright, Matt Wilkinson, Tyler Wright, Nikki Van Dijk and reigning World Champion Gabriel Medina this week on the World Surfing League.
