Wilson cruises into third round

JULIAN Wilson is riding a wave of support from near and far as he chases his maiden World Surf League title.

The Australian cruised into the third round of the seasonending Pipe Masters in Hawaii yesterday after an opening-round heat win at the famous Banzai Pipeline.

A late 5.57 out of 10 on the best wave of the heat was enough to lift Wilson to a twowave total of 8.07, eclipsing Brazil’s Tomas Hermes (6.40) and local wildcard Seth Moniz (4.57).

Wilson is vying with Brazilian pair Gabriel Medina and Felipe Toledo for the world title.

“The support’s unreal. My family’s here and I feel like I’m doing it for Australia in a way,” Wilson said.

“The support’s been incredible from home. Between everyone, I’m trying to carry the power and power through the event.”

To claim the championship, Wilson has to better Toledo’s result and hope Medina doesn’t reach the event final.

If Medina wins the event or finishes runner-up, he’ll claim his second world championship.

If he falls in the semi-finals, Wilson or Toledo must win to take out the title. Should Medina be eliminated in the quar- ter-finals or worse then Wilson or Toledo will be world champion if they make the final.

Medina made an ominous start, dominating his heat with a two-wave score of 13.16 to ease past Australia’s Connor O’Leary and wildcard Benji Brand.

Toledo faces a secondround elimination heat against Brand after he was upset by Australia’s Matt Wilkinson in the first round.

“I feel like the three of us that are in contention are all thinking we need a big result to clinch it,” Wilson said. “It doesn’t get much more challenging out at Pipe than that.”