Julian Wilson, long-standing Championship Tour (CT) competitor and World Title contender, announced today he will be taking an indefinite break from professional surfing.
Wilson's decision to take a step back from competing comes from his desire to be with his family, combined with the inability to travel internationally with them for the foreseeable future. He will compete at the Tokyo 2021 Summer Olympic Games, and has withdrawn from the remainder of the 2021 CT season.
"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," said Wilson. "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 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."
"Julian Wilson has had a fantastic decade-long career surfing against the world's best on the WSL Championship Tour," said Erik Logan, WSL CEO. "He's a five-time CT winner, a Pipe Master, a Triple Crown winner and has been a perennial World Title threat his entire career. We support his decision to spend time with his family and hope to see him ripping again soon, whether that's in or out of a jersey."
Wilson has been one of the most highly regarded talents on the Championship Tour ever since his 2011 arrival and will now take this phenomenal ability to the Olympics to represent Team Australia. After the Games, he will not be joining the Championship Tour in either Mexico or Tahiti, and will not seek a WSL wildcard for 2022. He is currently No. 17 in the world rankings.