Julian Wilson’s Top 5 Waves In The World

A portrait in Sydney for Jules’ new signature Oakley Breadbox shades.

Julian Wilson is a well-travelled young gent. He’s obviously visited every country in which a world tour event is held, and has been held, but he also took a year off between the juniors and the QS to make a film, which inflated his passport with some jealousy-inducing stamps. Then there’s the places he visits just because he gots to, like the stint in Reunion Island with Jordy Smith.

He’s also an analytical thinker when it comes to surfing, including everything from surfboard details to wave setups. 13. “There’s something to learn from every wave,” he says. “If you grow up on a beachbreak you’re gonna surf different conditions 365 days a year. But if you grow up somewhere like the Gold Coast with long point breaks, you definitely have an advantage of being a local and knowing the wave inside out. Beachbreaks are always a tough one, but they’re also a good thing because you learn to adapt to every different condition. There’s a positive to everything.”

But, please tell us more! Where does Coolum’s finest get his hottest kicks! This is Julian Wilson’s list of must-surf waves…

There really is no place like home. Photo: Ryan Miller/Redbull.com/Surfing

1. Sunshine Coast, QLD. For obvious reasons, home is my favourite place in the world to surf. There are a variety of different waves and, granted, there are a lot more crappy days than good days as far as the conditions go, but that doesn’t really matter! When the points at Noosa are on, there’s nowhere I’d rather surf in the world.

Certainly not hard to see why The Pipeline is on every surfer’s list. Especially when Jules gets to surf it with one other dude, minimum twice a year. ASP/Cestari

2. Pipeline, Hawaii. Nowhere else in the world has the same energy in the lineup as The Banzai. Getting a good one out there is so damn satisfying and rewarding. Good luck keeping a smile off you face after getting spit out of a proper Pipe tube…

Resisting the temptation to run an air shot ain’t easy, but look at that spray arc! Photo by Damea Dorsey

3. Keramas, Bali. With a little onshore or sideshore wind fluffing into three or four foot Keramas, I don’t think there is a more fun or more ripple wave anywhere. It can also be thrilling at six foot and offshore but I would rather take the first of the two options. You could absolutely perfect an air game if you surfed that one place every day for the rest of your life.

Discerning viewers will know this is not North Point. But, it is WA, and shares some of North Point’s sentiments, mostly being punch and wind. Photo: Ryan Miller/Redbull.com/Surfing

4. North Point, WA. The biggest ramps you will find anywhere! If it’s offshore and 10 foot, you might just get the best wave of your life. But when that wind starts blowing at you from the south and it’s in the six foot range, well, you’ve seen what can happen out there…

When a World Tour event last inflated J-Bay, Jules was still under the swoosh banner. His hooks are unwavering, however. ASP/Kirstin

5. Jeffreys Bay, South Africa. So happy to be going back there for the tour this year! It’s a place that will expose your flaws as easily as highlighting your strengths and a I love a wave that can do that.

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Jules’ signature Oakley Breadbox is now at all Oakley O Stores and selected retailers. But if you want digi play, bounce to the Oakley portal.