Tokyo Olympics 2020: Julian Wilson on mental toll of WSL tour and his push for Olympic glory

Aussie surfer Julian Wilson knew his home break would better prepare him for his debut Olympics than a California wave pool but that’s not why he walked out of the WSL tour.

Travelling and competing on the World Surf League tour alongside his family is for Julian Wilson “what it’s always been about”.

And so, after a year and change of doing it all independent of those he holds most dear, the Queenslander has gained some much-needed perspective.

The Aussie medal hopeful joined a handful of fellow Tokyo-bound athletes in skipping out on the most recent WSL tour event at the Surf Ranch in California.

The common thread among competitors was to focus on preparing for the first event at Tsurigasaki Beach on July 25 and for Wilson, he knew the surf at home on the Sunshine Coast would be a much better precursor to the Olympics than the wave pool technology employed in California.

But the 32-year-old’s decision to fly back to Australia was based on more than just preparation.

That much was laid bare in an Instagram post last Saturday, when Wilson declared he will take indefinite leave from the WSL tour following his Olympics campaign, citing a desire to spend more time with his family.

Pro surfer Julian Wilson with wife Ashley and children River 18 months, and Olivia 3, back in his hometown in Coolum Beach before heading to the Tokyo Olympics. Picture Lachie Millard

All the hints were there in an exclusive interview with News Corp days earlier when Wilson spoke at length about the emotional toll the tour had taken on him over the past 12 months.

“If there’s one thing I’ve learned this year so far, travelling overseas for the world tour, (it’s that) focusing on prioritising myself and my family is essential,” said Wilson.

“The quarantine really takes a toll on you and not being able to return to Australia between events isn’t ideal.”

The WSL tour has been forced to duck and weave with regularity as the Covid-19 pandemic took a foothold across the world.

Surfing’s great blessing became something of a curse, with its global tour making for a life of quarantine and Covid tests.

Julian Wilson in Australia’s Olympics kit. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Gaye Gerard

Suddenly the surfing Wilson loved so much became less.

“I’ve got two little ones,” said Wilson of his children Olivia, 3, and River, 1.

“My first, she did two laps around the world in the first two years of her life, coming with me and my wife on tour and that’s how I love to do it and what it’s always been about for me.

“It’s a tough one – definitely not what I planned to do in any way. Everybody is adapting to the situation but I’m finding it really tough spending that time away from the kids.

“At such a young age and with so much happening, that’s the sacrifice it takes.”

Ultimately, it was a sacrifice Wilson decided was no longer worth it, after spending more than a month at home ahead of the Olympics.

In recent years he had established himself as one of the tour’s top title contenders, culminating in a second-place finish in the 2018 season.

But this season and last the thrilling aerialist has been far from his brilliant best.

“The tour has had some massive changes to the schedule and it’s had big impacts on myself and my family dynamic and those decisions have been hard to accept,” Wilson said.

“Redirecting travel plans and spending (long) periods of time away has had an impact and taken quite a lot of my focus from my ideal performances at events so far.

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“I have such a high priority on my family and my responsibilities there (that) I would definitely be lying if I said it wasn’t having an impact on where I’m at.”

Thus, Wilson’s decision to pass on the Surf Ranch event to prepare at home was as much a mental decision as it was technical.

Wilson says his sacrifices will not be in vein – the Olympics now his focus.

“I’ve never skipped an event that I was healthy for, but it felt like the right decision and now I’m super excited for the Olympics,” he said.

“Just having a fixed date for the Olympics … wanting to be at my peak for this moment in the year has been a real emphasis.

“I made the tough decisions to get me to this point and it feels right. I’ve had a really good run of training … I’m itching and can’t wait to get over there and represent the green and gold.

“I feel like I’ve found some form at the end of the Australian leg and my surfing feels strong and where it needs to be.”

Julian Wilson’s boards feature his children Olivia and River’s footprints and wife Ashley’s handprint. Photo: Supplied

Wilson will not be alone on the sands and in the swell at Tsurigasaki Beach.

Taking pride of place at the bottom of green and gold boards are the hand and footprints of his wife and two children.

As Wilson prepares for the biggest event in his career, which could also be his last, he’s content having “a little piece of them” along for the journey.

“They’re coming with me,” he said.

“I’ll be able to take them with me in my own special little way.

“Ideally I would have my family come with me, but I’m ready to go and do the job and make sure that time away from them was worthwhile.”