Wilson in Pipeline for title
SURFING’S world title battle is down to two after Julian Wilson and Gabriel Medina won their way into round four of the season-ending Pipe Masters in Hawaii.
Queenslander Wilson and series leader Medina both survived tough round-three heats but Felipe Toledo’s championship hopes were dashed by 11time world champion Kelly Slater.
The season is expected to be decided today, with Wilson crowned world champion if he wins the event and Medina fails to make the final.
Should Medina be eliminated in the quarter-finals or worse, Wilson would only have to qualify for the final to claim the crown.
The fact Wilson is even in contention for his maiden world title is impressive after he ruptured the AC joint in his shoulder in January.
“I feel excited. I’m ready. I feel like my injury and my year’s kind of all coming together at the right time,” the 30-year-old said.
Wilson’s third-round opponent Miguel Pupo had a chance to eliminate the Australian with a wave in the final minute of their showdown but his wipeout allowed the world No.2 to progress.
“I kind of just took all the experience I have and let Pipe’s Backdoor decide my destiny,” Wilson said.
“I just put myself in position, gave myself chances, never gave up. Wilson will face veteran countryman Joel Parkinson, in his final event as a full-time competitor, and Yago Dora in the fourth round at Pipeline.
“It’s such a special wave for him (Parkinson) and he’s saying goodbye this year, and I’m hoping to win a world title,” Wilson said.
Brazilian Medina survived a mini-scare of his own to claim a come-from-behind heat win over local Seth Moniz.
Toledo went into the event level on points with Wilson, but was no match for seventime Pipe Masters winner Slater in the final heat of the day.
In other third-round heats, Parkinson defeated Kanoa Igarashi to maintain his push for a fourth Triple Crown of Surfing title and fellow Australian Ryan Callinan overcame Italo Ferreira.
Revered among the surfing fraternity, the Triple Crown is a series of three events surfed on a trio of Hawaii’s biggest breaks — two on the secondary tour and the third at the championship tour’s finale at Pipeline.