Julian Wilson progresses to Gold Coast Pro round of 32 while Bells Beach winner Jack Robinson suffers shock elimination

Gold Coast Pro wildcard entrant Julian Wilson has sent shockwaves in his world tour comeback as he caused a massive boilover in the elimination round, taking down Bells Beach Pro winner Jack Robinson. Details inside.

Julian Wilson of Australia after surfing in Heat 1 of the Elimination Round at the Bonsoy Gold Coast Pro on May 4, 2025, at Burleigh Heads, Queensland, Australia. (Photo by Andrew Shield/World Surf League)

Just one week after claiming victory at Bells Beach, Olympic silver medallist Jack Robinson has suffered a shock exit in the elimination round at the Gold Coast Pro on Sunday.

Robinson faced off with wildcard winner Julian Wilson and Morgan Cibilic in the opening elimination heat and could only muster a combined score of 7.06.

Wilson - a five-time Championship Tour event winner - used all of his experience throughout the battle and proved why he was one of the best surfers in the world during his peak in 2018.

The 2018 Gold Coast Pro winner claimed victory in the fiercely contested heat to advance alongside Cibilic in his first world surfing tour event since 2021.

Wilson is chasing his first Championship Tour victory since 2018 and was delighted with his performance in the crucial elimination round after a disappointing opening round on Saturday.

“I think the only change I made from (Saturday) is (Saturday) was the first time in this environment again,” he said.

“I think the first couple of waves I was feeling my way into it, just a bit of sensory overload and by the end of the heat I just wanted (that) opportunity and felt I could get the scores.

“Just really wanted to bring that into the first half of this next heat and apply it throughout the heat.

Julian Wilson of Australia surfs in Heat 1 of the Elimination Round at the Bonsoy Gold Coast Pro on May 4, 2025 at Burleigh Heads, Queensland, Australia. (Photo by Beatriz Ryder/World Surf League)

“I feel like I did well, I had more energy today in my heat and those heats are the heats you want but damn they’re tough, I was really happy to come out on top of that one.”

Wilson’s fairytale return to the championship tour after winning the wildcard event on Friday will see him face-off against world No. 1 Italo Ferreira for a round of 32 rematch of their opening round heat from Saturday.

“That was the thing that frustrated me the most was not getting the opportunity to get through that heat to get that rematch,” he said.

“That really fired me up and I came out of the water and a couple of cuss words at the end of the heat when my opportunities didn’t convert and I just want that moment.

“Obviously he’s the in-form guy, massive frother, we’ll see what conditions we get but I truly think I can mix it up with him and have a crack.”

Australian-born Japanese surfer Connor O’Leary progressed through his elimination round heat alongside Hawaii’s Barron Mamiya to knock out Australian surfer Jordan Lawler, while Aussie Joel Vaughan was also eliminated in his heat.

Originally published as Julian Wilson progresses to Gold Coast Pro round of 32 while Bells Beach winner Jack Robinson suffers shock elimination