Matt Wilkinson, Billabong Pro, Tahiti

In a sign of the times, just four of the ten rookies were eliminated during the mid-year relegation. Tanner Gudauskas, Blake Thornton, Nate Yeomans and Marco Polo were all axed leaving Brett Simpson, Matt Wilkinson (pictured), Dusty Payne, Pat Gudauskas, Adam Melling, Jadson Andre and Owen Wright to contest the rest of the year. It’s been a promising season for tour virgins. Lennox Head’s Adam Melling secured a runner up finish to Jordy Smith at J-Bay. Jadson Andre won an emotion-fuelled event on debut in his native Brazil. While there’s been glimmers of the progressive from Brett Simpson (full rotation oop at Winkipop, during the Rip Curl Pro), Dusty Payne (a sumptuous finner at the same event) and Matt Wilko (Y’see this guys BS attack at J-Bay?) throughout the year. Their success at the expense of veterans such as Neco Padaratz, Dean Morrison and Mick Campbell is further evidence of the direction the competitive interpretation of the sport is heading. – Jed Smith