Julian Wilson’s Quiver Switch-Up

Julian Wilson had a big year, way back in ’17. After winning in Tahiti over a hangry Gabriel Medina – remember the rail bumping start to that final? Anyway, that started a late charge from the handsome gent from the Sunshine Coast, resulting in him wrapping the year in third.

After wedding his dream gal, Ashley Osborne, earlier in the year the pair announced they were expecting. Now, they’re getting close to meeting their genetically blessed addition and understandably Ash wanted to be near the fam. So Jules being the caring husband that he is, went ahead and bought a house in Newcastle, nice and close to her folks (right by Ryan Callinan in Mereweather, actually).

So you’re thinking what does this all have to do with what Julian’s had under his feet recently?

Well, it’s been a horrifyingly gutless time over here on Australia’s easterly seaboard. Truly dismal. Half of the Stab‘s Australian office have taken up swimming in an attempt to jack up endorphins and retain some form of fitness.

While most of us have been reaching for shorter, more buoyant craft when things get measly, Julian Wilson is usually one to remain loyal to his standard 6’ish feet of foam (eg Air17, Monsta6 or Forget Me Not).

Julian’s Hawaiian quiver, perhaps a little useless in the conditions currently being experienced on Australia’s east coast.

But with little energy on offer and the 2018 season creeping closer, he’s downsized to a shorter, thicker number to keep active in his new hometown.

According to JS, most of their riders are “a little bit more inclined to ride smaller wave stuff throughout the year or between comps. Jules is always that guy who’ll stick close to his shortboard.

This is the only real time of the year when he’s got a long off-season ahead of him and there’s barely any waves anyway so that’ll free him up to play around, ride a little quad fish, Psycho Nitro, 5’5″ in epoxy, just chill out and not focus too much on shortboards,” he explained over the phone. “Sure, come February, when he’s back up north, he’ll be dialing in his shortboards again.”

Intrigued by the whole shaper-surfer dynamic and how the holiday break is usually (when waves are present) a time for board testing and refining, I asked about Jason Stevenson and Julian’s productivity when it comes to enhancing their range. Turns out within the JS extended family, Julian is the most vocal on what he wants, providing the most tweaks and tuneups.

“Ever since the Lowers final he made four years ago, he’s changed his shortboards probably more than anyone. He has that different stance, that different approach compared to all of our current guys. Julian’s refined his shortboards the most and we take it as a challenge, which is obviously extra hard work, but it’s enjoyable. It’s a challenge that makes us both better.”

Fast, buoyant and aggressive in appearance. Julian’s summer hits; Air 17X and Psycho Nitro in HYFI, with an artistic twist from artist Adrian Turner.

In case you’re curious, here’s the exact dims of Jule’s offseason quiver.

HYFI PSYCHO NITRO
5’5” x 19 ¾” x 2 ½” x 29.3L 

HYFI AIR 17X
5’10” x 19” x 2 3/8” x 27.7L 

AIR 17X
5’10” x 19” x 2 3/8” x 27.9L 

AIR 17
6’0” x 18 ¾” x 2 3/8” x 28L 

MONSTA 6
6’0” x 18 ¾” x 2 3/8” x 28L
6’1” x 18 ¾” x 2 3/8” x 28.3 

FORGET ME NOT & FMN 2
6’0 1/2″ x 18 3/4″ x 2 7/16″ x 28.6L
6’2″ x 18 3/4″ x 2 7/16″ x 28.8L 

More info, this way.