Julian Wilson has conquered the Rip Curl Pro Portugal 2012, at Supertubos, Peniche, in a dream final matchup. The 2012 ASP World Tour title race gets fired up and everything will be decided in Pipeline.
Gabriel Medina and Julian Wilson relived a final held last year, in France. Before this year's clash, Wilson had never won an ASP World Tour stage, while Medina had already two titles under his belt. This time, the Australian prevailed. It's Julian Wilson first WCT victory ever.
The natural footer versus goofy-footer battle of aerialists was super tight. Onshore winds brought aerial maneuvers to life and wave face work. Julian opened well, but Medina recovered with two good waves that would grant him the lead for the last 10 minutes of the final. With five minutes remaining, Wilson could not halt Gabe's extended lead.
But the winner was crowned in the sand, while judges carefully analyzed a last ride. It was Julian Wilson who would smile with a great wave in the dying seconds of the final. Revenge.
"I'm overwhelmed," Wilson said. "I don't even know how to describe the feeling. 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."
"I felt like I got the score. Especially after my other wave that I got a 7 on, but at the same time the crowd was pretty quiet. I didn't feel that confident walking up the beach. Wilko had my back but he wasn’t 100% sure. Then they just read the score out and I was so happy. This is what dreams are made of".
Gabriel Medina cried a few tears in an emotional trophy ceremony. Julian Wilson showed appreciation and respect for the Brazilian and celebrated with the thousands of spectators in the beach.
Four Australian surfers entered the Quarterfinals, two got through to the Semifinals and only one hit the final of the Rip Curl Pro Portugal 2012, in the European Pipeline. Julian Wilson, a surfer from Coolum Beach, had only locked a runner-up result in the 2012 Quiksilver Pro France.
Joel Parkinson lost the first Semifinal matchup against Gabriel Medina, but gets a third place to add to his best 2012 results. "I'm enjoying myself", he revealed. The leader of the WCT rankings before the last North American leg had already told that everything could happen and no fireworks were being thrown.
"Even though he (Slater) is in second on the ratings and he's out of the event, we have a little bit of work to do in front of us," Parkinson said. "It definitely tightens up the race a little. I guess doing that might bring it down to Pipe".
In the second Semifinal, Julian Wilson closed a total 19.27 points, in the first 10 minutes of the Semifinal against Adriano de Souza. How did he do that? The answer is simple: air game and backside tube riding.
Perfect 10 rides, broken boards, shocking exits and surfing sardines. Supertubos paid off and will certainly return in 2013 with flawless barrels, sun and thousands of spectators. Now, it's Santa Cruz time, before the Triple Crown of Surfing.
Rip Curl Pro Portugal 2012 | Final Result
Julian Wilson (AUS), 16.26 points def. Gabriel Medina (BRA), 15.37 points
ASP World Championship Tour | Rankings 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