Wilson off to a ripping start
Aussie wins Down Under as SA’s February marches on in big league
AUSTRALIAN Julian Wilson and American Lakey Peterson will head into the Rip Curl Pro at Bells Beach Down Under wearing yellow jerseys, having stamped their authority at the fabled Kirra surf break on the Gold Coast of Australia this week.
Wilson opened up the Quiksilver Pro final with a massive backdoor barrel right in front of compatriot Adrian “Ace” Buchan. From that moment, there was no turning back for the surfer from the Sunshine Coast who was nursing a serious shoulder injury throughout the event.
Critical
The critical tube ride netted Wilson a near-perfect score of 9.93 and, along with his back-up score of 7.5 for his second ride, Buchan had to settle for runner-up position with wave scores of 6.5 and 8.6.
While a mountain bike injury in January nearly sidelined Wilson from the event, his emotions were once again set on a high with the birth of his daughter just one week prior to the event.
“I learned a lot about myself at this event, and through this injury, and the birth of my baby girl, Olivia, and my wife, Ashley,” said Wilson on Surfline.
“Honestly, watching the birth of my first child gave me an unbelievable strength to just suck up the pain in my shoulder, and come down here, and do what I needed to do.
“My wife has been a huge inspiration through the whole experience, so I want to thank Ashley for that.”
Equal third went to rookies Brazilian Tomas Hermes and American Griffin Colapinto who both toppled title favourites en route to their semifinal heats. Hermes ended the hopes of Joan Duru, Kolohe Andino, Mick Fanning and Filipe Toledo while Colapinto halted Joel Parkinson, Kanoa Igarashi and Michel Bourez.
Colapinto was a stand-out throughout the event, firing his first shot when he beat reigning world champion John John Florence in a non-elimination heat in Round 1, then bagging a 10-point ride in his quarter-final with Michel Bourez.
Michael Rodrigues was another rookie who revealed his true potential.
The Brazilian scored a controversial win over world number four Jordy Smith in Round 3 with less than a point separating the two natural footers.
Michael February’s inclusion into the event at the last minute was only confirmed when 11-time world champion Kelly Slater withdrew in Round 2. The world surfing spotlight then shone brightly on the Cape Town youngster and he didn’t disappoint.
February eliminated the 2016 champion, Australian Matt Wilkinson, but then fell to Wilson in Round 3 by the narrowest of margins, with just 0.2 of a point separating the two.
As Slater continues to manage a serious foot injury from a bone crushing wipe-out at the Corona Open in Jeffreys Bay last year, he may also miss the Rip Curl Pro Bells which kicks off over the Easter holidays on March 28.
While Slater has not officially withdrawn from the Bells, February will no doubt be ready to strike as soon as the announcement is made.
“I think it best that I properly rehabilitate the injury and choose to surf wholeheartedly, not from the excitement or stress of a last minute arrival,” said Slater on Instagram.