Defending world champion Tyler Wright heads to Fiji atop the World Surf League rankings alongside fellow Australian Stephanie Gilmore after winning the Rio Pro.
Wright defeated Frenchwoman Johanne Defay in the final with a combined wave score of 17.17 (out of 20) to 13.20.
The 23-year-old Wright backed up a 7.50 with a brilliant 9.67 which featured a series of cutbacks to take the title in Brazil.
"It is sick to be sharing the jersey with Steph," Wright said.
"It is going to be a good year. It has always been a part of my plan after the Australian leg to be in this position. I am feeling really good. It is cool to be working on stuff over the last year and put it into action."
Next up on the women's 10-stop tour is Fiji which is scheduled to start on May 28, with world No.4 Defay the defending champion.
Wright and Gilmore, who won the season-opener on the Gold Coast, are locked on 29,700 points, while fellow Australian Sally Fitzgibbons is third (28,200) in the world rankings.
Earlier in Rio, Wright beat her Margaret River Pro final conqueror Fitzgibbons in the semi-finals with another slashing performance.
Wright surfed through every heat to defend her event title and claim her third win in Rio.
"This has been a good week," Wright added.
"I've put in a massive block of work before I came over, making sure that my backhand was where it needed to be. It is cool to be able to focus on performance and what I've actually got to do."
Share
