Stab Magazine | JS Dominated The Quik Pro

EAST with Harry Bryant coming August 18...

372 Views

JS Dominated The Quik Pro

A look at Julian Wilson and Ace Buchan’s magic carpets. 

hardware // Mar 17, 2018
Words by stab
Reading Time: 2 minutes

In the all Australian finale of the Quiksilver Pro, you may not have realised both Jules and Ace were atop Jason Stevenson sticks. 

We’re not saying that by waxing up a JS you’ll be able to drive through top to bottom Kirra heavers like Julian or Adrian, but the two gents certainly looked good atop their respective sleds. Other comp standouts, Mikey Wright and Joel Parko, were also riding Mr Stevenson’s boards. 

Hammonds Julian Kirra

A separated shoulder wasn’t stopping Mr. Wilson from driving through this for a 9.93.

Photography

Scott Hammonds

Jules was atop his signature model the Air 17 – 6’0″ x 18 3/4″ x 2 3/8″ x 28.2L – for the entirety of the event; ranging from heavy tunnels at Kirra on finals day to head high Snapper walls. Jules’ separated shoulder may have rendered his paddle and duckdiving ability near-useless, but he wasn’t lacking any of his usual flair once he was up on two feet. 

Julian’s quiver for Snapper was finished on Friday the 9th of March and the boards were carted up to his Sunny Coast abode the next day. The following day, the comp kicked off. Julian managed to scrape in a quick surf on Saturday once they arrived to get a feeling for his new boards. Sunday, at the crack of dawn, he made the trip down from the Sunshine Coast just in time to win his Round 1 heat. 

In hindsight, perhaps a little injury lay-time was exactly what Julian needed; putting surfing on the backburner and focussing on his family and recovery evidently worked wonders at the Snapper comp.

Thankfully there’s a ski on hand at Bells too. 

 

HammondsS OZ18 7023

is there anyone with a more consistent backhand hammer than Adrian Buchan?

Photography

Scott Hammonds

As for Ace, he went with the relatively fresh HYFI Monsta 8 model – which we saw the JS team tearing upon a few weeks back (re-visit below). Ace’s choice of board is slightly shorter than Julian’s, coming in at 5’10” x 18 5/8″ x 2 5/16″ x 25.5L. Ace, like Jules, rode this board throughout the contest regardless of the conditions. Unlike Jules, Ace’s board is an epoxy resin/EPS foam construction; typically anything epoxy-related is thought to only go well in small, powerless waves, but judging from his finals day standout performance we’ll need to realign our preconceived notions.

The board is also based off the same design that Ace rode on the way to his final last year in Brazil and the semis at Trestles. 

Comments

Comments are a Stab Premium feature. Gotta join to talk shop.

Already a member? Sign In

Want to join? Sign Up

Advertisement

Most Recent

Why CT Surfers Threatened To Boycott The ISA World Games

And how it will affect the level of surfing in the 2028 Olympics.

Jul 29, 2026

What’s Coming To Stab Premium 

The hard drive-release pipeline for the next five months.

Jul 28, 2026

2026 Surf100 Challenge Series Presented By Pacifico, Episode 05

As cold and as perfect as waves in the US get.

Jul 27, 2026

From The Championship Tour To Louis Vuitton | Mikey February | StabMic Ep. 24

Did LV rip off Vans?

Jul 27, 2026

The Great Shark Debate: To Cull or Not to Cull? 

Dr Michael Mehmet vs Fred Pawle.

Jul 26, 2026

Rasta’s Shark Theory

Return to your animal, trust your instincts.

Jul 25, 2026

How To Shark-Proof Your Next Surf*

Shark policy aside, what tech, gadgets and gear can actually keep you safe?

Jul 25, 2026

Good Luck Killing The US Open

A preview of the 2026 US Open of Surfing at Huntington Beach.

Jul 24, 2026

Mateus Herdy Heads Home

A profile on the Florianopolin CT rookie, his rich orbit of influences, and Yago Dora’s…

Jul 24, 2026

Response: A Shark Cull Won’t Make Our Beaches Safer

Science over sensationalism.

Jul 23, 2026

Op-ed: Why Australia Needs More Shark Nets

An unapologetic take on the need for safer lineups.

Jul 23, 2026

How Reunion Island Survived Shark Purgatory

With more shark attacks per capita than anywhere else on Earth, it's taken millions to…

Jul 22, 2026

Introducing EAST’s First Goofyfoot Test Pilot: Harry Bryant

“My life’s already a board test.”

Jul 22, 2026

The Trauma Gap: Surviving vs Seeing Shark Attacks

Three witnesses recall the incidents that changed them.

Jul 21, 2026

Are There More Great Whites In California Than Ever Before?

A firsthand shark attack story, a conversation with two researchers, and how to avoid becoming…

Jul 20, 2026

Australian Oil & Gas Co. Wants To Destroy A World-Class Reef

Does that make you mad? Good. Here's how you can save Scott Reef:

Jul 20, 2026

Welcome To Stab’s Shark Week

An editorial week dedicated to the large cartilaginous fish we share lineups with.

Jul 20, 2026

What, You Haven’t Heard Of Weslley ‘King’ Dantas?

The 28-year-old has beaten loan sharks, empty bank accounts, and unmet potential to stage his…

Jul 19, 2026
Advertisement