Commonly referred to as “one of the best to never win a World Title”, Julian Wilson is attempting to make his return to competition.
Per his Instagram:
“This time three years ago I was sitting in a hotel quarantine room in the aftermath of my Tokyo Olympic campaign, watching my dream as a WT surfer fade away while heading home to be the best partner and Dad that could be during a very challenging time (mentally).
I don’t regret my decision for a second and I love my wife and family to bits. Nothing in life compares to a healthy relationship at home and the opportunity to raise a family.
The past 6 months I’ve had competing firmly at the forefront of my mind. It’s time for me to give it another crack. My hope is to get a WSL wildcard for the 2025 challenger series.
With the support of the sponsors that have stuck by me JS, FCS, sunbum and the exciting prospect of pushing for big results with my own brand Rivvia Projects at the nose of my board I’m looking forward to the challenge.
I’ll be in it for the fun of the challenge and the healthy lifestyle surfing is. I love surfing and I’m still too damn competitive at heart to not give it another shot.
Cheers, Julian
‘Keep it fun’”
Pretty exciting. Julian made his full time debut on Tour in 2011, though he was a wildcard in a CT all the way back in 2007. In 9 full years on Tour, Julian finished the year ranked below 10th just twice. The perennial World Title threat finished 3rd, and then 2nd in the World in back-to-back years, even going into Pipe with the lead, the Final event of the year at that time. Many thought he would have won a Title.
Julian surfed on the WT at an interesting time that I have spoken about before – at the tail end of Kelly’s run, in the middle of Mick’s takeover for a short period, and then the Brazilian storm. World class, top talent surfers were just a bit stuck behind, and it was evident. Guys like Taylor Knox, Jeremy Flores, Owen Wright, Dane Reynolds, Kolohe, and even still, Jordy Smith, all got caught in the storyline of “shoulda, coulda, woulda”. They should have won a Title… They could have won a Title if not for… They would have won a Title if not for…
Julian I relate more to Taj Burrow. These guys were (maybe still are) your favorite surfers favorite surfer. Completely well rounded, great style, can do it all from knee high shredding to getting completely tubed in waves of consequence, it was hard not to like Julian or Taj’s surfing. And again, Taj is widely considered one of the best surfers to never win a Title. Easy comparison here.
What are my thoughts on this, you ask? Well, first off, I think it’s rad. I am of the mindset that we should always be trying to improve. We, as in we the people, us as humans. In whatever you do. If you write, you should be trying to get better at it. If you eat hotdogs in world breaking times, you should be trying to get better at it. If you are retired and enjoying free time by playing golf or fishing, you should be trying to get better at it. Maybe I am too young to understand the concept of leisure. I definitely do enjoy surfing, the act of it and everything, but that does not mean I have to be lackadaisical and nonchalant about the whole bit. I want to tear; I want to be the best fucking guy in the water. You should too.
Secondly, I think it’s rad, again. I have spoken in the past about how I think a “Senior’s Tour” should be up and underway. The Heritage Heats or whatever it is they have been running at events this year and last have been getting massive viewership. We all want to see some surfing heroes still out there ripping. It’s almost more relatable to the surfing public than the actual CT stuff is. I get it, you want to pander to the younger crowd, bring them to the forefront and have a spectacle of the world’s most talented surfers – undoubtedly makes sense. But, we also want to see some of the surfers who Were the World’s best at one point. Some would say they still are? It’s always subjective, but the views don’t lie. We like to see it.
Lastly, my only real question I have about this whole thing – will the WSL actually give him that wildcard? Is that the fair thing to do? In my opinion, no, it is not. Should they still do it? Yes, yes they should. Look, Juilian finished 3rd, and then 2nd in the World in back-to-back years (2017 & 2018). He was a Title threat just about every year he was on Tour. He’s undeniably one of the most talented surfers in the world. But so is Dane Reynolds, so is Noa Deane, should we give them wildcards to the Challenger Series? If it means getting more views, bringing more fans to the sport, influencing young kids to push their surfing, not be a cookie cutter carbon copy of the rest of the bland, banal surf scene that is today, then yes – Noa Deane and Dane Reynolds absolutely should have wildcards. Would we get the most consistent, the most professionally run event ever? No, clearly not. But we would have a highlight reel to watch for years to come. The event would be the most fun thing since Stab Highway, and it would show what surfing is really all about; you don’t need to be a highly tuned freak athlete to be one of the best surfers in the world. We have a very unique prospect in that, which almost no other sport has.
I just rewatched “Kissed By God” the Andy Irons movie, and was reminded of this fact when Bruce told the story of Andy winning that event in France when he was high off coke and pills. Talent conquers in surfing. Regardless of age, physical stature, mental fortitude or mental mindstate, the best surfing (should) will win.
So yes is the answer to my question, “should they give him the wildcard?”. It is a bad look for them – forsure. I mean think of all the guys that have been slaving away at the Qualifying Series for years, hoping to get their call up to the Challenger Series, and eventually try to qualify for the WT. Ramzi Boukhiam or Rafael Texiera come to mind. A couple of 10+ year veterans who absolutely rip, that just never really got their proper shot, until this year for Ramzi that is. Or I look at the rankings list for North American Qualifying Series and I see a few names that looks like they will not be on the Challenger Series next year, having to wait another year for their shot to crack the WT – Nolan Rapoza, Taro Watanabe, Taj Lindblad, etc. That will be tough for any of those surfers looking up at Julian thinking, “he already has his shot. Where’s mine?” Understandable, yes. But to be fair, Julian could have possibly still been on Tour had he not walked away just after the Covid madness. So all around I think it makes sense.
I would love to see more guys in their mid-late careers making comebacks. I told you how I see Simpo out in the lineup all the time, and I’m not kidding when I say he is still one of the best surfers in the World. I actually think he might be better now than he ever was. I know Simpo is not the World’s most elite surfer, he’s just one of my personal favorites, so let’s give you a better example. Both are live, but you have the choice of tuning in to watch Rio Waida vs ImaiKalani deVault in the Quarterfinals out at Cloudbreak, or Mick Fanning vs. Joel Parkinson out at Snapper. What do you choose?
I thought so too.
Cheers,
hwilsin
Drew Stanfield