First Stephanie Gilmore, now Julian Wilson? The last time these Australians were on the WSL Championship Tour together was way back in 2021. But both are back as wildcards for the 2025 Gold Coast Pro, Stephanie by way of an invite and Julian by winning the local trials event yesterday before the competition window opens.
The Gold Coast is one of the few events on tour that has a trials contest, where the winner of each division gets the last wildcard in the main comp. Though it’s now at Burleigh this year because of the lack of sand at Snapper Rocks, the trials event went off on the new point without a hitch.
Beatriz Ryder/World Surf League
Julian, 36, is so eager to surf in a CT jersey again that he couldn’t wait for his 2025 Challenger Series wildcards to kick in. He won this event at firing Snapper in 2018 on a bum shoulder. Now, four years after his semi-retirement to focus on family, he’s looking as spry as ever on those crisp JS boards.
“I love this event,” Julian said. “I have had the privilege of winning this event and surfing in another final, it’s in my home state, so this is really special. This is the most special event to me, and I was actually getting quite emotional out there at the thought of getting another opportunity to surf at this level at this event. Competing against the best surfers is what I want, and I can’t believe it’s come around this quickly to get this opportunity. I’m really taken aback, to be honest, this means a lot to me.”
On the women’s side, Sophie McCulloch of the Sunshine Coast was the other victor. Sophie is a former CTer herself, having surfed in events before the mid-year cut in 2023 and 2024. She’s fortunately recovered from breaking her back at The Box in April 2024. She knows Burleigh well and has won a Qualifying Series event there before. She’s also won at a Haleiwa on the Challenger Series, so expect her to swing on anything that comes through on’s Burleigh sandy bottom.
“I’ve had a few wins recently, but this one definitely takes the cake,” she said. “I’m just so excited to test myself against the world’s best once again, as I don’t feel I was truly surfing my best when I got my first opportunity on the CT. Hopefully, I can get going this week and do some damage.”
Related: Fantasy Surfer: The Championship Tour Returns to the Goldie