Julian Wilson, La Graviere, France

Julian Wilson is the dream tour’s new Dane Reynolds. He ain’t quite as poster-boyish as Owen Wright (thanks to the odd board-punch, etc) but sets the same kinda unappreciated performance bar at WT events that Dane once did. Simultaneously, he’s also the antithesis of Dane. No uncoventional boards, dirty sneakers, hand-drawn teos. Jules, in his mint and white wetsuit, pink-and-blue sprays (pictured) and tanned, muscular rig, has a self-respect Dane doesn’t, something crucial to going the extra mile. It’s the ability to say no to a beer, to clock hours in the gym and ultimately, minimise his off-days. Jules is like a Tom Brady, but all-Australian, with the best b-side finner in the biz and a success-rate that makes even Kell Slates shiver in bed at night.

At Trestles, after hucking an above-the-lip board-varial, correcting stance and throwing a backside air-revs, Jules earned the ire of Joel Parkinson: “I’m a purist,” said Joel. “I tell the truth. I love surfing and I hate seeing someone going crabby switch-stance on the rest of the wave. I think back to Kelly’s 10 in New York… but (Julian’s move) a 9.8? No hard feelings to Julian, kinda ugly after it.” Was Joel’s comment one of those pinnacle moments that aren’t recognised for how significant they are until much later on? Jules the unapologetic new school, Joel the stubborn old school. Perhaps.

Shea Lopez, a great observer of professional surfing’s current state, wrote for Surfer Magazine: “Julian is the first. The first of the new young dynamos that will change the way contest surfing is done. Innersection favourite Albee Layer said something to the effect of, “Turns are just used to set up an air or tail throw.” Julian does this with more explosiveness and creativity than anyone else. The time has come where, similarly to skateboarding, you must show a complete mastery of numerous moves, not just the off-the-top, carve, cutback combo. I missed the part where he looked ‘crabby’ during a smooth switch-stance transition out of a board varial and into a stock backside 180 air reverse. I think everyone at home did as well. Julian makes me want to watch pro surfing.”

Cue the current world tour event, the Quiksilver Pro, France, where Jules won his first-round heat against Bede Durbidge and Dusty Payne, and is waiting for his round three match-up. Yesterday, when the onshores came up, the weather “Got a bit nasty so the comp was called off,” says photog Ryan Miller. “The young punters were rubbing their hands together at the conditions. Julian, Jordy, Patty G and Jack Robinson were having a field day surfing the reform inside of the comp bank. Julian was looking extra sharp. Looks like this guy will be on the podium sometime soon.” It’s gotta be in Europe, don’t it?

For more of Ryan Miller’s awesome work, jump over to his site, here.