Wilson fighting through pain barrier
ANYTHING from here is a bonus.
For a man who didn’t think he would even be able to line up in the opening event of the season, Julian Wilson has pushed himself to the limit to make the Quiksilver Pro a definite keeper in his 2018 drive for a maiden title.
Wilson injured his AC joint six weeks ago in a mountain bike accident and is surfing with a separated shoulder that is causing him significant pain.
The 29-year-old spent more than an hour with medical staff yesterday after scraping through his Round 3 heat against injury replacement Michael February but emerged later in the afternoon to win again and book a place in the quarter-finals in a courageous effort.
“My first wave in my Round 3 heat today I felt a lot of pain but it subsided pretty quickly and I was able to get on with the heat,” Wilson said.
“But my fitness isn’t where it normally would be at, I haven’t been able to do any cardio exercise with my shoulder and after just getting back in the water three days before the event, I’m not at my physical peak, that’s for sure.
“Right now I feel exhausted and it’s going to be really important to try to find some energy for (Thursday).”
Wilson has been a world title contender for the past two years and heads into the 2018 season ranked No.3 in the world.
His shoulder injury is taking a mental and physical toll – the Coolum product said a lack of time in the water had affected his feeling on the board as well as his fitness – but he is taking a glass-half-full approach, given he could easily have missed the event altogether.
Wilson will finish the event with a fifth placing at worst.