Australian Tyler Wright can still claim her maiden surfing world title next week in France, despite being beaten by main rival Courtney Conlogue in the final of the Cascais Pro.
Conlogue's victory on Wednesday meant Wright's lead at the top of the title race was narrowed to 5,250 points, however that stretches out to 6,600 once the competition's convoluted system is applied.
Surfers drop their worst two results of the year at the end of the season, and given Wright has won four of the eight events, the odds are very much in her favour.
If she wins the final in France, she will claim the title before the season-ending Maui event, regardless of where Conlogue finishes. However a number of scenarios could also lead to her claiming the top gong.
Wright would also win the title if she reaches the semi-finals and Conlogue fails to take out the event, or if she reached the quarter-finals and the American didn't go beyond the semi-finals.
"I know I am in a title race, but for me, I know what I can do and what I want to do," Wright said.
Wright was narrowly beaten by 0.74 points by the USA's Conlogue in the final in Portugal on Wednesday, falling just short with a ride of 5.93 in the final minutes.
The 22-year-old will now head to Landes in south-western France where she has won for the past two years and reached the final in 2012 and 2013.
"I have never been more psyched on surfing or doing heats and the amount that I am learning," Wright said.
"I have the same goal going into France - to win every heat and win every final.
"I am going to take what I've learned out of this one with dealing with beach breaks and everything like that into France and start it all over again."
