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Mikey Wright has won the first of a best of three heat battle in Hawaii with Italian surfer Leonardo Fioravanti for the wildcard spot on the world surf tour.
Australian surfer Mikey Wright edged closer to regaining his full-time spot on the world championship tour, winning the first clash in wildcard contest with Italian Leonardo Fioravanti at Hawaii's Pipeline.
A day after his older sister Tyler Wright nailed a perfect 10 to defeat Stephanie Gilmore in the nearby Maui Pro event, 24-year-old Mikey also tasted success.
Wright and Fioravanti, 23, are vying for the injury wildcard spot on the Tour and will surf off over three man-on-man heats at Pipeline, which is venue for the opening event this week on the men's tour - the Pipe Masters.
In a tight contest in heavy two to three metre conditions, Wright pipped his rival, who couldn't find a winning wave as the clock wound down.
Before COVID-19 derailed the year and forced a reworked calender, they were scheduled to surf the first three events in Australia, with the highest-ranked athlete after those stops securing a full-time slot.
Wright had been forced out in 2019 with a back injury which he initially hurt at Oahu's Pipeline a year earlier.
Fioravanti was out of the water with a dislocated shoulder while he also has bittersweet memories of competing in Hawaii, breaking his back there in 2015.
The loser of the surf-off will still get a start in the Pipeline Masters as the replacement surfer.
Mikey's brother Owen Wright is missing the event for the birth of his second child in Australia while another veteran Adrian Buchan also elected not to compete.