Tyler Wright is our newest world surfing champion. Overnight she became the seventh Aussie woman to rule the surfing world, after finishing second at the Rocky Pro France.
Here's what you need to know about her so you can be better informed than everyone else at barbecues this weekend.
1. The Basics
Wright is 22 and grew up at Culburra Beach, a surf spot about two hours south of Sydney near Nowra. Her brother is pro surfer Owen Wright. More about him in a sec.
2. She won the Layne Beachley Classic when she was just 14
Which was just ridiculously cool and impressive. "She doesn't respect her elders," Beachley joked when contacted by The Huffington Post Australia this Thursday. Ha!
3. At first, Wright never really wanted to win the world title
In a video interview you should really watch on the World Surf League website, Wright said:
"I think the expectations [to win a world title] come from people telling me that I need to win a world title, not really from me."
4. But then, she changed. And she really wanted to win
In the same interview mentioned above, Wright went on to say:
"I finally realised the difference between someone that doesn't care and someone that cares. And I care."
Why the change? How did the talented surfer find determination too? Why was 2016 so different?
"Because she chose to win," Beachley said. "She believes in her ability now more than ever before. From adversity comes greatness, and despite the heartache and heartbreak she has endured, she overcame the odds and won a world title, which is amazing.
5. Adversity. Let's talk some more about that
As mentioned, Tyler Wright is the little sister of pro surfer Owen Wright. Owen suffered a serious brain injury at Hawaii's notorious Banzai Pipeline break in December 2015. He had a serious concussion and minor bleeding on the brain, and sat out several months.
But as Lane Beachley explained, "the challenges Tyler's brother has been through have brought them even closer". Tyler's uncle also passed away last year. He used to love watching her surf, and she promised him a world title. All of this appears to have focused her.
6. So we've got a new women's World Surfing Champ. Here's the full list of Aussie winners
7 -- Layne Beachley (1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2006)
6 -- Steph Gilmore (2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2014)
4 -- Wendy Botha (1988, 1989, 1991, 1992)
1 -- Tyler Wright (2016)
1 -- Chelsea Georgeson (2005)
1 -- Pauline Menczer (1993)
1 -- Phyllis O'Donnell (1964)
7. And let's be honest, Wright dominated this year and deserved the title
There are just 10 events on the World Surf League tour. Nine have been completed so far in 2016, and Wright has already won four. She didn't win the final in France overnight, but a runner-up finish to American Carissa Moore was enough to make her points lead unassailable. Full results are here.
8. And when she's not surfing?
"She loves to dance on stage," Layne Beachley told us. "She just loves to have fun. She's a really fun-loving, heart-on-sleeve person. And she loves the movie Despicable Me!"
