Breaking: Julian Wilson Says Farewell To The WSL (For Now)

Today, Julian Wilson announced he’d be taking a break from the World Tour to spend time with his family. 

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The 10-year CT vet said on Instagram:

I would like to take this time to let you all know I’m taking a break indefinitely from the @WSL world tour for my own well being and that of my family. 

By no means am I calling it a retirement from professional surfing and the decision I have made is in line with what I value most in my life and that is my family. The inability to travel internationally with them now and for the foreseeable future is enough for me to take a step back and be there for my wife and children.

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I’m feeling really good about my decision and really excited for what my future looks like with extra time on my hands and I’ll be bringing some new projects to life(!) while enjoying being with my family.

Massive thank you to my sponsors for their unwavering backing and for everyone’s love and support on my journey, this is not over for me but just the beginning of a new chapter!

Apparently, the siren song of being a World Tour professional surfer—galavanting around for 11 months to far-flung international locations, competing against the best surfers in the best waves—has lost its enchanting tone to many professional surfers struggling to navigate Covid Era travel restrictions, as well as international travel limitations. The restrictions and increased time abroad have put a strain, particularly on surfers with families at home who can’t travel with them.  

Julian’s “indefinite break” comes as a surprise to many, as Julian is set to compete in the Olympics this month. 

According to Dave Prodan, the break will become “effective following his Olympics debut in Tokyo for Team Australia. While he plans to keep surfing and potentially compete close to home, Julian has messaged that the pandemic and the quarantine requirements have been too difficult on his family and personal health.”

While we’re inclined to toss together a radically attenuated CV of all Julian’s many accolades, DP kinda already did the work for us: 

“Anointed a @WSL Title Contender in his early teens, Wilson has had to shoulder the Aussie national (and arguably global) weight of expectations for 20 years…and he has unquestionably delivered an impressive decade amongst the world’s best:

* 5 CT Victories – Portugal (’12), Pipeline (’14), Teahupo’o (’17), Gold Coast (’18), France (’18)

* A Pipe Master

* A Triple Crown Winner

“As a character study, Julian occupies rarified space in the surfing world in terms of just how much hype has preceded him and how much of it he’s raced against throughout his career. From head-turning video parts in @Quiksilver ‘s ‘Young Guns’ series, @TaylorSteele ‘s ‘Stranger Than Fiction and @KaiNeville ‘s films to his own profile movie ‘Scratching the Surface’, Julian was poached from Quik by @Nike, featured in Super Bowl commercials and clubbed his way into the elite Championship Tour back in 2011. He’s been an object of desire, a subject of criticism and…despite the global recognition…has remained somewhat of a private person.”

“While it’s undoubtedly a loss for surfing at the elite level, I respect his decision and wish him and his family health and happiness now and in future.”

And I’m sure we’ll continue to seeing him rip, both in and out of a jersey.”