Julian Wilson’s competitive fire didn’t burn out, and he likes the heat. Photo: Ethan Smith//Instagram
Julian Wilson has announced that he plans on returning to professional surfing.
“I’ll be in it for the fun of the challenge and the healthy lifestyle surfing is,” he wrote on Instagram. “I love surfing and I’m still too damn competitive at heart to not give it another shot.”
Wilson, who hung up the jersey in 2021, is hoping to get a wildcard into the 2025 Challenger Series where he’ll try and re-qualify for the Championship Tour. At 35 years old, he’s got plenty of gas left in the tank, but he doesn’t regret his hiatus from the highest level of pro surfing. When he first called it quits, he made it clear that a return could be in the cards.
“I would like to take this time to let you all know I’m taking a break indefinitely from the WSL world tour for my own well being and that of my family,” he wrote at the time. “By no means am I calling it a retirement from professional surfing and the decision I have made is in line with what I value most in my life and that is my family.”
The COVID-19 pandemic played a big role in his decision at the time — it made it impossible to travel with his family, and that wasn’t going to work for him.
“The inability to travel internationally with them now and for the foreseeable future is enough for me to take a step back and be there for my wife and children,” he explained.
Now, however, with the lockdowns over and his children a few years older, that competitive fire has been re-stoked.
“The past six months I’ve had competing firmly at the forefront of my mind,” he continued. “It’s time for me to give it another crack. My hope is to get a WSL wildcard for the 2025 Challenger Series.”
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With a few years of semi-retirement under his belt — although calling parenting and starting a company a retirement is a bit of a stretch — he’s happy with the choice he made.
I don’t regret my decision for a second and I love my wife and family to bits,” he explained. “Nothing in life compares to a healthy relationship at home and the opportunity to raise a family.”
He kept busy during his break, adding the pressure of starting his own business, Rivvia Projects, to the stresses and joys of fatherhood.
“With the support of the sponsors that have stuck by me JS, FCS, sunbum and the exciting prospect of pushing for big results with my own brand Rivvia Projects at the nose of my board I’m looking forward to the challenge,” he said of his return.
While it’s unclear at the time of this writing whether Wilson will be awarded the wildcard he’s hoping for, surf fans and surf legends alike are rooting for him.
“Highs are high lows are low but fam by your side you can’t go wrong!!!” wrote CJ Hobgood. “U got this!”
Ian Walsh chimed in to show his support, too. “Love this Jules!!” he said.
“Come back brother,” Gabriel Medina added.
“Been waiting for this day!!” cheered Mick Fanning. “Go get em!”
