Australian surfing star Tyler Wright’s family has spoken out after the World Surf League confirmed Abu Dhabi will host the second event on the 2025 Championship Tour calendar.
WSL officials announced the tie-up in August and locked in the schedule last week, days after the UAE’s man-made venue hosted its first ever professional event with the Longboard Classic.
The release served as a reminder for Wright’s family and sparked renewed fears for when the Championship Tour makes its stop in Abu Dhabi.
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Wright, a two-time world champion, came out as bisexual in 2020 and married her wife Lilli two years later.
“This schedule should (be) rethought,” her brother and occasional CT surfer Mikey wrote on the WSL’s post.
“You have no business putting on an event at a location where my sister can be sentenced by law with the death penalty. So much for equality and equal rights, only when it’s convenient to WSL.
“You have supported the LGBTQ flag on her shoulder but now you want to strip it and be hush-hush to get her to a location that she’s at risk of this punishment.
“You have the responsibility to protect your athletes, interested to see how you think you can protect her against the law.”
Wright’s sister Kirby asked the WSL: “Do you have a safety plan in place for my sister???”
Mikey’s wife Shenay added: “Nice to see you guys are factoring in the safety of the contestants lives when choosing locations.”
Wright’s own wife Lilli criticised the WSL for not discussing a UAE event with the surfer before the schedule was finalised.
“Tyler has competed on this tour for over 14 years and has had the pride flag on her jersey since 2020,” she wrote.
“Even after winning two world titles she is still not valued enough by the WSL to be considered when they sold this event. WSL have the duty of care to their athletes to not put them in potentially life-threatening circumstances like this.
“It has been an upsetting journey educating myself on the legality and the history of LGBTQIA+ rights at this location and I doubt there is any ‘solution’ I would feel comfortable with the love of my life competing there.
“I see how hard my wife works every day on her career and it’s unreasonable to expect her to just not go.
“Her life is worth more than one event but I can’t not acknowledge missing this event would put her career at a huge disadvantage over the next three years that this location will be used.
“Tyler’s queerness should not have to be a burden or an obstacle in her workplace.”
Lilli said there is a “conversation” to be had between athletes and sporting organisations.
“At the end of the day, WSL had absolutely no business selling this event to this location expecting their only openly queer athlete to go along quietly,” she wrote.
Wright is not expected to have any issues competing in the UAE, with similar situations having played out in other sports since the country began investing in top-level events.
Australian Olympic skateboarder Poppy Olsen shared her experience as an out visitor to the UAE.
“I’ve had multiple Olympic qualifiers in Dubai and am in the exact same position,” Olsen wrote in a response to Lilli’s post.
“As much as I can appreciate the beauty of the country it’s not easy to compete and maintain a positive mindset when you’re worrying about your safety everyday.”
WSL has been approached for comment.
In August, WSL chief executive Ryan Crosby said the Middle East presents “interesting opportunities” for the organisation.
“We’re looking forward to seeing what the Surf Abu Dhabi facility can deliver for the world’s best surfers — and the broader surfing world — in the future,” he said.
“Both the evolving wave technology and the region itself present interesting opportunities for the WSL, and we’re excited to see that come to life in the coming months.”