3 ou's outta Fiji due to injury

COOLANGATTA, QLD/Australia (Saturday, June 1, 2013) - Owen Wright (AUS), 23,Tiago Pires (PRT), 33, and Raoni Monteiro(BRA), 31, have withdrawn from the Volcom Fiji Pro due to injury and have been replaced byYadin Nicol (AUS), 27, Heitor Alves (BRA), 31, and new event wildcard Alex Gray (USA).

Wright sustained a back injury earlier this season at the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach after finishing 2012 ranked No. 10 on the ASP World Championship Tour. The Australian started 2013 with a hard fought win at the ASP 4-Star Breaka Burleigh Pro, but went on to finish equal 25 at the opening two stops on this year’s WCT.

This will be the second event in a row the young goofy-footer will miss due to injury, but he’s working hard to make sure he’s fit and ready for the inaugural Oakley Pro Bali.

“I’ve had to withdraw from the Volcom Fiji Pro due to an on going back injury that happened at Bells,” Wright said. “I’m working hard and should be ready for the event at Keramas, Bali.”

Tiago Pires, who also missed out on the Billabong Rio Pro, pulled a knee ligament while chasing barrels around his Portuguese home in late-April. While Pires hoped to return to competition in Rio, the nagging injury has forced the Portuguese Tiger to remain sidelined for one more event to complete the rehabilitation process and hopes to return to competition in Bali.

The Volcom Fiji Pro holds a waiting period from June 2-14 and will be webcast LIVE via – http://www.volcomfijipro.com/