Julian Wilson can certainly still surf. Photo: Ethan Smith//Instagram
Lost among the sabbatical announcements this week is the fact that Julian Wilson still wants a spot on the 2025 Championship Tour (CT) and he’s publicly making sure the WSL hears him. With the news that Gabriel Medina will miss significant time from the tour, as well as John John Florence and Steph Gilmore, Wilson has not been shy on social media about wanting Medina’s vacated slot.
In a social media post speculating who will get upgraded to the CT, Wilson commented, “I’ll take it.” He also shared the post on his Instagram stories, asking where to submit his application and tagging the WSL. Given that Wilson could simply call the relevant decision-makers to relay this sentiment, it appears to be part of a campaign. Perhaps he thinks building momentum on social media will apply pressure on the WSL to grant him a spot on tour.
The problem for Wilson is that the two 2025 wildcards for men have already long been awarded to Filipe Toledo and João Chianca. Medina’s slot has already been given to Ian Gentil. John John Florence’s sabbatical-opened slot was given to Alan Cleland. Crosby Colapinto’s injury opened up a slot that was awarded to Eli Hanneman for the first event of the season at Pipeline.
The best Wilson can hope for at this point are event wildcards on a one-off basis. But what incentive does the WSL have to give those to him? Wilson is 36 years old. The list of pro surfers who have survived on tour at that age – let alone succeeded – is short. Logic would suggest that it would make better business sense to award wildcards to a younger talent who would grow into a tour athlete.
When Wilson first announced that he was ending his three-year hiatus from competitive surfing, his initial request was for a wildcard on the 2025 Challenger Series intending to qualify for the 2026 CT. It appears those pleas were not initially well-received by the WSL because now the ask has been increased to a 2025 CT slot.
Despite his time away from tour, Wilson can still surf. No one is arguing that. But, unfortunately, it doesn’t appear that there is any realistic path for him to get a full-time spot on the 2025 tour as he has requested. The Challenger Series kicks off in June in Australia. We’ll see if the WSL grants him entry.
