Competing at the elite level for the first time since suffering a serious head injury at Pipeline in Hawaii in 2015, Wright claimed his third World Surf League title.

He beat fellow goofy-footer and 2016 Quiksilver Pro champ Wilkinson 14.66 points to 13.50 in the decider.

"I'm just so stoked," said Wright, whose younger sister, reigning women's world champ Tyler Wright, helped chair him up the beach on Sunday to the cheers of an adoring crowd.

"To be in that final with Wilko, he's one of my best mates," said Wright.

"We just had a great time, it went back and forth and turned out my way but I'm sure there's another one down the track that will turn out his way."

Even as recently as a month ago, it was no sure thing that Wright would be able to return to the world tour.

"I think it was the start of February, I was sitting in the doctor's office and there were question marks on the year," he said.

"So to be sitting here right now , we just pushed hard and went hard and confronted every fear of getting back into it.

"There were a lot of questions of getting back into the sport and back into pretty much what took me out and could have taken me out for ever.

"I just kept going and kept doing it."