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Owen Wright sees generational change emerging but needs a miracle to stop Kelly Slater sealing an 11th world surfing title in San Francisco this week.
Owen Wright sees generational change emerging but needs a miracle to stop Kelly Slater sealing an 11th world surfing title in San Francisco this week.
The 39-year-old Slater only needs to get through two heats to wrap up the title at Ocean Beach.
Should the American legend stumble that early - however unlikely that is - Australian young gun Wright's bold 2011 title bid will still have a pulse.
The 21-year-old, second on the tour rankings in his second year amongst the world's elite, has consistently provided the stiffest competition to Slater.
His rapid rise to the top, headlined by his first elite tour win in New York in September, has caught plenty by surprise - none more so than Wright.
He noted that 24-year-old Brazilian Adriano de Souza in third place had also posed a challenge ahead of some longer-established names.
"It's crazy to see us all at the top here," Wright said.
"I guess you would assume that guys like Mick (Fanning) and Joel (Parkinson) and Taj (Burrow) would be up there battling Kelly (Slater) for the title at the end of the year.
"But it's younger guys like Adriano (de Souza) and myself. It's pretty crazy to think about the generation gap between us."
Slater takes on Australians Kai Otton and Dean Brady in his opening heat while Wright is against Fredrick Patacchia and Dillon Perillo in the opening round at San Francisco.