Australian Tyler Wright Tied With Steph Gilmore After Taking Out Brazil

Sloppy, backwash-y beach breaks, loose nights out and inevitable scrapes with desperate, impoverished locals are the hallmarks of the Oi Rio Pro in Brazil.

The event was moved to Saquarema this year due to the previous event site closer to Rio being awash with raw sewage and other toxic run-off from the city.

Reigning world champ, Tyler Wright, from the east coast of Australia made hard work of it, losing in both non-elimination rounds (one and three) on her way to the Oi Rio Pro title.

She beat Johanne Defay in the final, who hails from Reunion Island, also known as the fatal shark attack capital of the world right now.

The win sees Wright draw level with six-time women’s world champion, Steph Gilmore, as the tour heads to the next stop, the Outerknown Fiji Pro, in idyllic Tavarua.

Gilmore lost out in the quarterfinals to Victorian, Nikki Van Dijk and will now share the yellow leader’s jersey for the second time this season.