Australia's Tyler Wright wins Pipe Pro for second time in Hawaii

Australian surfer Tyler Wright has made history, becoming the first woman to win the iconic Hawaiian event, Pipe Pro, twice, ending her championship drought.

In a low-scoring final held at Banzai Pipeline on Sunday (Australian Eastern Time), Wright defeated defending world champion Caitlin Simmers. The two-time world champion previously won the inaugural women's Pipe Pro event in 2020, while American Simmers emerged victorious last year.

With one minute remaining in the final, Simmers was blocked on a wave, ultimately leading to Wright's victory with a score of 7.70 to 3.94. Wright, who finished only 10th last season, had not won any round of the World Surf League competition since the Bells Beach event in 2023.

After defeating 2023 world champion Caroline Marks in the quarterfinals, Wright advanced to the final by defeating another American surfer, Lakey Peterson, with a score of 15.17 to 9.83. Simmers defeated Australian Molly Picklum in the semifinals.

In the men's event, 11-time world champion Kelly Slater was eliminated in the quarterfinals. The American legend had just achieved his 100th victory at Pipeline the previous day.