Matty Wilkinson, North Avoca

The East Coast of Australia can be a special place. ‘Specially if you’re home for a short stint between contests and you manage to score a cute little north east swell at one of your local breaks. Matty Wilkinson breathed a sigh of relief in Tahiti recently, having managed to keep himself above the WT’s new cut-off point. He had to take down pal Kekoa Bacalso or face being back on the ‘QS. Matty progressed through and ensured he’d end his rookie year on the WT as part of the top 32. Being a rookie on tour ain’t always smooth sailin’ – having to adapt your surfing to a new criteria, starting the year at a low seed and working your way up, only to be dropped down again by the cut-off, and needing to knock one of your friends off tour so that you can stay on, all come part-and-parcel with the territory. Coming home from the sort of pressures that a rookie like Matty faces on the WT, only makes these little sessions all the sweeter. – Elliot Struck