Julian Wilson Wins Rip Curl Pro Portugal, Parkinson Retains ASP WCT Lead
SUPERTUBOS, Peniche/Portugal (Friday, October 19, 2012) – Julian Wilson (AUS), 23, has claimed his maiden ASP World Championship Tour (WCT) victory today, besting a rampaging Gabriel Medina (BRA), 18, in the dying seconds of the Rip Curl Pro Portugal.
Stop No. 8 of 10 on the 2012 ASP World Championship Tour, the Rip Curl Pro Portugal played host to pivotal moments in the hunt for the 2012 ASP World Title as well as today's dramatic culmination between two rising superstars.
In a re-match of the surfers' Final bout from France last season, Medina and Wilson went blow-for-blow in today's Final in front of a capacity crowd at Supertubos. While Medina favored a more technical approach to the heat, executing a number of progressive maneuvers, it was Wilson's barrel sense and combination ability that ultimately tipped the heat in the final moments.
"I'm overwhelmed," Wilson said. "I lost to Gabriel (Medina) on the buzzer last year in France and to beat him back again on the buzzer, I don't even know how to describe the feeling. He was trying to hold onto the lead in the end there, he pretty much did what I did in the Final last year in France. He was too busy worrying about me, and that wave came in the dying moments and that was the scorer. I don't know what to say, I'm just so happy."
Wilson's final wave, a multi-section barrel followed by a number of turns, came in at an 8.43 and gave the Australian the edge with no time left on the clock. Both surfers arrived to the shoreline without knowing who had won the Final.
"I felt like I got the score," Wilson said. "Especially after my other wave that I got a 7 on, but at the same time the crowd was pretty quiet. I think there are a lot of Portuguese supporters out there. I didn't feel that confident walking up the beach; Wilko (Matt Wilkinson) had my back but he wasn't 100% sure. Then they just read the score out and I was so happy."
Today's win vaults Wilson from No. 12 to No. 6 on the ASP WCT rankings and sets him amongst the very best surfers in the world for the final leg of the 2012 season.
"My number one goal this year was to win one of these World Championship Tour events," Wilson said. "I won Huntington, which was pretty big but it wasn't a 'CT so there was definitely a space left in there for me to accomplish. To win here is just unbelievable."
Medina, who had been in devastating form throughout the entire event, held a commanding lead for the bulk of the hard-fought Final, but was unable to close the door on Wilson. The Australian's final ride narrowly edged Medina out of collecting a third elite tour win and the young Brazilian was brief in post-event interviews.
"That was a tough heat against Julian (Wilson)," Medina said. "Unfortunately he got the score on that last wave. I had a fun run through this event and the waves were really really good."
Today's Runner-Up finish moves Medina from 9th to 8th on the ASP WCT rankings.
Adriano de Souza (BRA), 25, 2011 Rip Curl Pro Portugal winner, smashed through Jeremy Flores (FRA), 24, in the Quarterfinals this morning but was unable to fight back from Wilson's early-heat blitzkrieg in the Semifinal battle.
"I feel good," De Souza said. "A third place is an amazing result and to be in the Top 3 guys in an event is an unbelievable feeling. I'm really happy to see Medina in the Final and representing Brazil, and I'm sure our whole country is proud to see him out there. It would have been amazing to have two Brazilians in the Final but Julian (Wilson), I really have to respect him, he's surfing amazing and he did so well in that Semifinal. Everything has connected for me these last two weeks. I was under pressure because France was not a good event for me and then to come here as the defending champ, it's a lot of pressure.. A third is a really good result towards my goal to finish in the Top 5 in the world. Brazil and Portugal have a great connection and we're friendly countries, the food and everything is very similar so I do feel like in my second home here."
Today's Equal 3rd place finish bumps De Souza from 6th to 5th on the ASP WCT rankings heading into the final two events of the season.
Joel Parkinson (AUS) 31, continued his standout performances at Supertubos this morning, besting lethal rookie John John Florence (HAW), 20, in the Quarterfinals. After a midday hold to allow the tide to readjust, Parkinson was unable to find a rhythm against Medina in the Semifinals and would have to settle for Equal 3rd at the Rip Curl Pro Portugal.
"Conditions were just terrible then," Parkinson said. 'This one rip went through and kind of messed it for a while and that was it. When we watched it earlier, there were barrels out there, it was kind of like before, but it seemed as soon as the tide started pushing it just turned bad. It's a bummer, but that happens sometimes and you just have to roll with it. An Equal 3rd is good. I'm really enjoying myself. If you had told me six weeks ago that between Trestles and now, I'd have two second places and a third, I would have probably taken it instead of a 9th and all that so bring on Santa Cruz."
Parkinson's Equal 3rd in Peniche further solidifies his frontrunner status on the ASP WCT rankings.
RIP CURL PRO PORTUGAL FINAL RESULTS: 1 – Julian Wilson (AUS) 16.26 2 – Gabriel Medina (BRA) 15.37
RIP CURL PRO PORTUGAL SEMIFINAL RESULTS: SF 1: Gabriel Medina (BRA) 13.80 def. Joel Parkinson (AUS) 5.27 SF 2: Julian Wilson (AUS) 19.27 vs. Adriano de Souza (BRA) 5.90
RIP CURL PRO PORTUGAL QUARTERFINAL RESULTS: QF 1: Gabriel Medina (BRA) 15.60 def. Josh Kerr (AUS) 10.67 QF 2: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 15.07 def. John John Florence (HAW) 11.23 QF 3: Julian Wilson (AUS) 15.13 def. Owen Wright (AUS) 14.34 QF 4: Adriano de Souza (BRA) 15.57 def. Jeremy Flores (FRA) 9.80
RIP CURL PRO PORTUGAL REMAINING ROUND 5 RESULT: Heat 4: Jeremy Flores (FRA) 7.34 def. Raoni Monteiro (BRA) 3.34
ASP WCT TOP 5 (After Rip Curl Pro Portugal): 1. Joel Parkinson (AUS) 52,700 pts 2. Kelly Slater (USA) 47,200 pts 3. Mick Fanning (AUS) 47,000 pts 4. John John Florence (HAW) 44,350 pts 5. Adriano de Souza (BRA) 37,650 pts
Comments
And what you won't see in this asp sugar-coated press release is that 'in an overt display of sportsmanship, Gabriel was right there to congratulate Julian in a hard fought final'.
More marketing about pop music. Tis like watching Rage on ABC1 but only more tragic.
"Without winners, there wouldn't even be any god damned civilization."
So, cool Jules earns over a $100 grandie at the Holigan Beach US Open? And in the same year, pulls out a victory in Portugal?
Yes it IS a Dream Tour.
And like all other win or loose situations, the dream stops right after the number one spot!
Congrats, Julian Wilson.
Roller, RUOK?
medina was robbed he surfed better
julian way way over scored on the last one
I'm with you thunderwood. His last wave was 6.5 - 7 max.
I'm golden, whaaaat. thanks for inquiring...
and i'm still leaving no turn unstoned.
Relieved to hear it. Thought for a moment there that your med's prescription had been switched with the Idiot Bunny's.
no need, whaaaat.. no meds here, mate.
ala Jules in his win at the Rip Curl Pro Portugal grand final,..
in your next surf, may you too grab 15 waves in 30 minutes.
Did Medina do a dummy spit? I heard something about tears. Did someone die? Is this the dark side of the supposed 'Brazilian' passion? Don't remember Mick, Joel, etc. as juniors in tears.
Surfline.com quote; -
"Julian got the nod and his maiden Dream Tour victory. Held in his father's arms, Gaby was visibly crying. Whether they care to admit it or not, everyone -- everyone -- knows that air for air, tube for tube, heat for heat, the Brazilian was the best all-around surfer in the water these past two weeks in Peniche."
the outcome was a joke. how pathetic are ASP, needing to turn Julian into a marketing brand. JJ is cute but just a typical surfer. Gabriel can't speak English. Kelly may retire, if he wins this year. Owen wants to be a hippy. Joel is old. Mick is old. Tag is a has-been. Dane Reynolds a stoner. Jordy a day dreamer. So who have they got when Kelly is gone? Who will be the face & articulate voice for the masses. Looks like they are hoping to groom Julian. Julian did not beat Owen in the quarters, either.
@dzb: "good old Aussie grommet abuse, child abuse & pedophilic style, they want to punish & humilate Gabriel for nothing" (sic)
Take deep breaths into the brown paper bag and get a grip, you fucking tosser.
Don't insult true victims of child abuse and paedophilia by comparing what they've gone through with a dubious decision in a surfing contest
Gabriel is being personally put down & discriminated against. Gabriel is close to the next Kelly Slater. Gabriel is a true waterman. He knows when they are trying to push him down. This never happened to Mick or Joel. The fact is Gabriel is superkid; he is better than everyone else, but in good old Aussie grommet abuse, child abuse & pedophilic style, they want to punish & humilate Gabriel for nothing. He has been robbed & underscored more than once. Only those who condone child abuse would criticise Gabriel. They are trying to crush his dream, crush his talent, crush everything he has worked for, because the mafia are not willing to have a Brazilian world champ.
just an analogy. as i said,they are trying to crush his dream, crush his talent, crush everything he has worked for, because the mafia are not willing to have a Brazilian world champ.
as for Aussies, they love abusing grommets. it is the English way to put down your children.
Gabriel was there with his family & ASP behave like that, treating him with utter disrespect?
Gabriel lost his heat in the US Open. He knows when he loses!
anyway, i logged on this site to read a Cheyne Horan story. same thing happened to Cheyne in 1979.
What - child abuse?
Very poor choice of analogy. What's next - slavery or Nazism?
Fucking idiot.
@dzb - point taken. Some here have no morals.
What was the point that you took, z-man?
I think dzb is getting a wee bit ahead of himself in his adoration of Gabby. Jon Jon is no slouch and far more powerful than GM. JW was pretty good throughout the contest and that 10 pointer choob wasn't real bad. Contesting is all about copping the good with the bad, it is tough and if you can't handle then don't compete or learn how to loose gracefully and take a broader perspective on life. There is no grand conspiracy to prevent a Brazilian winning the world title, it will happen and GM will probably be the one. Those judges do a good job and take their job seriously with little thanks like all umpy's. He lost, move on to the next one, and grow up a bit.
I took out that IF the powers that be chose JW as winner someone should have called the Police. Medina was robbed. I think JW won because it is the bias of the judges. Regardless how good of job they do, that last wave was way over-scored.
"GM is young, he will get his" - attitude prevails.
I know; everyone is a critic, including me.
all the guys on the tour rip,i love watching all of them, and no doubt one day, and soon i'd say there will be a Brazo world champ and good for them, judges get it wrong all the time, they are human, its not the end of the world, no one died, and it has no effect on this years champ,keep it in perspective guys and hope for good waves for the next event !
"I think JW won because it is the bias of the judges."
For the record, I agree with Thunderwood - J'dub's last wave was overscored. By about .6 or so, at most, I reckon.
But where's the evidence of bias? Or conspiracy?? Let alone punishment, humilation or - for fuck's sake - child abuse???
A bit of perspective wouldn't hurt.
Or some evidence or, failing that, a convincing reason why the judges are treating GM different this year to last.
Worse than a bus full of giggling school girls on the way to camp.
Was wondering how you would be going with this debate floyd! Trying not to vommit no doubt.
By the way I've just got my dog doing the front paw stand and you have to up the ante with that leg cross!
You reeeeeaaaalllly hate pro surfing dontcha floyd.
As far as scoring JW's last wave, the lowest score awarded accross the board was a 7.8, three other judges gave it an 8.5 and another an 8.3.
JW only needed a 7.5 to get up. Bear in mind, one of those judges is Brasilian.
Some of the best times of my school days happened up the back of a bus full of giggling girls.
Me too.
Bless those Catholic school girls.
Yorksurfer,
I consulted the divine master about the benefits of the lotus (crossed leg) pose.
He softly spoke at length about the hidden benefits of the pose including restricting the possibly of doing what dogs naturally do and becoming a pro surfer. I was confused and asked is dog self grooming and pro surfing the same thing? He just gently replied think about it.
floyd - that's FUNNY!
@ dzb, interesting observations...
"typical surfers".
"can't speak English".
"hippy".
"old".
"old".
"has-beens"
"stoners".
"dreamers".....
doesn't this sound just like what all the msg board neggies have been clamoring on about for ages?.... Yanking surfing all the way back to the ¡ surfing roots of the early 70's?
About the rip curl pro 2012 final
Maybe the judges were watching the semi finals replay during final, so they over scored julians waves, and didn’t see medina’s waves To compare.
They judges have to read the asp book (criteria) againg and
watch the final to see how bizarre was it! big criteria mistake!
Yesterday, it was the huge mistAke, so bad as Kelly’s crowned misunderstood last year!!
Congrats Julian and gabe, it was a great comp until the final heat!
GOOD ON YOU JULIAN!
It wasnt the first, It won’t be the last!
Same plot, different actors
I think a few of the actors lost the plot in this little drama.
Brazil is being well represented in the judges stand, so the theory of Brazilians being ripped is not true. The fact is, judging is an opinion and on that day the judges opinion was JW.
I think the judges got it right. Medina has a hideous poo stance style. Julian's claim was lame too.