A kick in the crown Jules

So close, so close was Julian Wilson to confirming his place on the world tour next year. He just came second at Sunset to Brazilian Raoni Monteiro, who inched Jules out by 0.17 points. After a third and a second in the first two stops of the Vans Triple Crown, Jules is in a prime spot to win the trifecta, but is that comfort enough for the sting of being foiled so close to his goal? Seems it is – the kid is level-headed and relaxed when he answers a phone call from Stab.

Stab: Shit, y’came close to winning.
Julian Wilson: Yeah, real close. It was just one of those ones that coulda went either way. I got a wave at the end, I got a 6.90 but needed a 7.20. They could’ve given it to me, but… that’s the way it goes. Raoni seems like a good guy, I wasn’t too bummed that he won.

Must be frustrating. It is, ’cause y’know… I would’ve qualified if I did win. But I’m still in a qualification spot now, so just being in that position is… I’m pretty stoked. Now I’ve just gotta wait and see what the guys below me (on the ratings) that’re in the Pipe event do. My chances are alright, but not great. I’m sitting at 31st, so if two people go better than me, I’m out. But the hope’s definitely still alive.

How’s it been, adapting to competition after spending so long working on a film? Good. Really good. During the filming process all the responsibility was in my hands to create successful trips, but when I’m competing I just go somewhere knowing that within the 10-day period, I’m going to have to surf four or five of those days. It’s a lot less stress. I can just do everything I can do to prepare for it. I don’t have to worry about inviting guys like Mick, Dane and Taj  on a trip and praying for waves. 
It’s interesting you mention that first. I would’ve thought the change’d be more about getting into a competitive headspace. Nah, I love to compete, always have. It’s where I want to be, on tour competing and going for world titles. That’s my dream. I’ll be sitting in a really good position next year from all my results this year. I didn’t even surf a ‘QS till June or July, so I’ve done pretty well. I’ve held off doing ‘QS’s till now, ’cause I wanted to let my surfing mature.

How’s surfing in front of a judging panel compare to surfing in front of a camera? Y’can’t go out there and try huge moves every wave in a contest, not get scores and not get through your heat. I do whatever I need to do to get through a heat. When you’re filming, you’re trying to do the biggest, wildest thing and maybe land it 30 per cent of the time. But when it comes to competing it’s gotta be a 100 per cent strike-rate, so the moves definitely get toned-down. In competition surfing, I’ve been concentrating on putting it more on rail and just being consistent. In the ‘QS events you obviously don’t need to go as mad as being on the WT events, so I’m just trying to find that medium. If I qualify for the WT my surfing’ll definitely change. But for the ‘QS, I really couldn’t care what my style’s like or anything like that. It’s just, get it done.

Is grovelling contest wind-chop a let-down, after threading amazing waves during filming? Nah, not at all. I don’t even miss it that much. Like I said, I love competing and whatever the waves are, the other guys in the heat are surfing the same conditions. So it turns into a battle to see who can outsmart and out-surf the other guys. And I love that shit. – Elliot Struck