Julian Wilson reignites world surf title bid with win at Billabong Pro Tahiti

JULIAN Wilson has become the seventh surfer to win a world championship tour event this year with his win over Gabriel Medina in the final of the Billabong Pro Tahiti on Monday.

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AUSTRALIAN Julian Wilson has become the seventh surfer to win a world championship tour event this year with his thrilling victory over former world champion Gabriel Medina in the final of the Billabong Pro Tahiti on Monday.

Wilson, a Pipe Master champion and the man surfing against Mick Fanning when he was attacked by a shark in 2015, came from behind to post two nine point plus rides in the final five minutes of the heat to beat Medina 18.96 to 17.87 after a marathon day in Tahiti.

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“I won, I won,’’ shouted Wilson in delight.

“It is so special to win. Such a good final. I’m pretty speechless. I’m pretty worn out. I’m pretty ecstatic.’’

Julian Wilson knocked off some big names to make it to the finals.

In a testament to the tightness of the world title race, no surfer has been able to break through for two wins this season

The finals appearance of Wilson and Medina, ranked eighth and ninth going into the Tahiti event, has also reignited the pairs bid for the 2017 world crown with Wilson now in the top five.

However the early exit from the competition of Australian Matt Wilkinson has seen South African Jordy Smith take over the No.1 ranking.

With four events to surf on the world tour this season, the race for the 2017 world crown is wide open with a number of Australians, including Wilkinson, Owen Wright and now Wilson, all still in contention.

Medina on Monday produced the first perfect 10 of the event as he sent Australian Wright to the sand in the quarter-finals of the Billabong Pro.

Owen Wright fell to an inform Gabriel Medina in the quarters.

Medina combo’ Wright to knock him out of the competition 18.23 to 13.94.

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A heat earlier the Brazilian had ended the hopes of Aussie rookie Connor O’Leary’s with Wilkinson also bowing out in round five in his match-up with Wiggoly Dante.