Australian surfer Julian Wilson off to a hot start in scary conditions at Rip Curl Pro Portugal
AUSTRALIAN surfer Julian Wilson has kicked off his bid for the Rip Curl Pro crown in sensational style with a head-turning performance in “scary” conditions in Portugal.
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AUSTRALIAN surfer Julian Wilson has kicked off his bid for the Rip Curl Pro crown in sensational style with a head-turning performance in “scary” conditions in Portugal.
Wilson admitted his first heat wasn’t a lot of fun but he still managed to notch the highest score of the opening four heats of the world tour event.
“The conditions are really hard, I was getting smashed out there but it was a good test, a big challenge to start the event,” Wilson said in a phone call after his heat
“When it’s closing out and intense it’s not a lot of fun.”
If Wilson can win in Portugal he will force the men’s world title race to the final event, the Pipe Masters in Hawaii
If Brazilian former world champion Gabriel Medina wins in Portugal, world No.2 Filipe Toledo must finish ninth or better and Wilson third or better for the world title race to be decided in Hawaii.
If Medina finishes second or worse in Portugal, the battle will also continue to Hawaii.
Wilson reignited his chances of a maiden world crown with victory at the recent Quiksilver Pro France where he eliminated Medina with a perfect 10 prior to his finals win over fellow Australian Ryan Callinan.
Late Tuesday night he carried his strong form from his French triumph into his opening heat with a 14.2 total against Sydney surfer Connor O’Leary and injury replacement Vasco Ribeiro.
Wilson said the win in France — his second of the year — had shown him he has the form to do well in the crucial event in Portugal.
“I feel like in France my surfing started to shine, ” he said.
“I just want to perform well here and really put on a show.”
While Wilson has advanced directly into round three, Toledo will surf in the elimination second round after losing his first heat to rookie Thomas Hermes.
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