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Billabong Pro Tahiti Final Results: Billabong Pro Tahiti Semifinal Results: 2017 WSL Men’s Jeep Leaderboard (After Billabong Pro Tahiti ): TEAHUPO’O, Tahiti (Sunday, August 13, 2017) – Julian Wilson (AUS) claimed victory today at the Billabong Pro Tahiti, Stop No. 7 of 11 on the 2017 World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour (CT), after defeating Gabriel Medina (BRA) in the Final. A full day of competition witnessed intense action from the remaining competitors as they battled through 15 heats in six-to-seven foo surf at Teahupo’o. Today’s win marks Wilson’s third CT victory and best result at the Billabong Pro Tahiti. The Australian is always a serious WSL Title contender and his first place finish moves him up from 8th to 5th place on the Jeep Leaderboard heading into the Hurley Pro at Trestles. “It has been a few years,” said Wilson. “It is so special to win. I am ecstatic and I have nothing left in me. I am just so happy and relieved to finally win an event again. It took so many good waves to win this event and I was lucky enough to get those. I felt like I was trending in the right direction. I’ve had a pretty steady start to the year and I am so happy to be in the mix now. With so many events left, I am really looking forward to it. I was already enjoying myself on tour and even more so now. I cannot wait for the rest of the year.” Wilson had a slow start to this season on the Australian leg but has been building momentum throughout the 2017 season, with improved results at each event, specifically his 3rd place finish in J-Bay, 5th in Fiji and 9th in Rio. The contender’s win now puts him just 2,150 points behind World No. 4 Owen Wright (AUS). The exciting Final saw an all-out battle between Medina and Wilson. The Brazilian got the lead over the Australian with an incredible 17.87 combined score (out of a possible 20), with a near-perfect 9.20 (out of a possible 10) and excellent 8.67. Wilson was stuck in a combination situation and needed two new scores with time running out. Wilson fought back with a critical 8.10 and outstanding 9.23, but still trailed by 1.09 points. Under pressure but with priority, Wilson found his way out of a deep tube to earn a near-perfect 9.73 for the win in the dying minutes of the Final.
“It was an awesome Final,” continued Wilson. “With that 9, it was such a good wave and I was a little bit far in, but it was so nice that I wanted to make something special happen. I had plenty of time to get that 8.6. It really turned on for us in the Final and we had some great opportunities, so I am just glad to get that special one. Thank you to Gabby (Gabriel Medina) for an awesome Final. We seem to have these amazing match-ups in the Final and we didn’t disappoint. It has been such a special few days and I think we finished in the best conditions. We had a good battle and I am just so happy.” The runner-up finish for Medina is his best result this season. The 2014 WSL Champion and event winner has struggled to excel past the Semifinals in 2017, but the Final appearance today proves that Medina is back in the game heading into the second-half of the season. The Brazilian superstar will improve two places to 7th on the Jeep Leaderboard. “I am stoked to make another Final against Julian (Wilson),” said Medina. “He has been surfing really well the whole event and I think it is a little harder on your backhand, so good job to him. I am stoked. It feels good to be back in the game and now I am thinking about Trestles. I am happy. It is Father’s Day in Brazil and my dad is here, so that was a good present.”
Wilson previously ended Jordy Smith’s (ZAF) run in Tahiti in the second Semifinal. Today the South African earned his best result in Tahiti, a 3rd place finish, and the top spot on the Jeep Leaderboard. Current World No. 1 Smith will head into the Hurley Pro at Trestles not only ready to defend his event win but eager to keep his lead over the world’s best surfers to improve his World Title campaign. “I am still learning a lot and I wish I had figured it out earlier in the event,” Smith said. “I am just going to continue to keep learning and watching John (Florence), Jeremy (Flores), Kelly (Slater) and those guys and keep learning. I am stoked to be in the top spot. Obviously, it is a long way to go, but it is sick to be in the front there. This year is a new year and I just want to bring something new, something fresh, and keep trying my hardest.” The first Semifinal heat saw Medina eliminate Kolohe Andino (USA) with two commanding 7-point rides. Andino posted the highest single-wave score of the heat, an 8.90, but could not secure the backup score required to advance to the Final. Andino’s excellent 3rd place finish marks his career-best result in Tahiti after a disappointing 25th place at the 2017 Corona Open J-Bay. Andino will look to bring the momentum from his Semifinal finish into his hometown of San Clemente, which will host the next stop on the 2017 CT. 2017 World Title contenders John John Florence (HAW), Owen Wright (AUS) and Matt Wilkinson (AUS) were eliminated from the event prior to the heated Semifinal match-ups but will keep within striking distance of the Jeep Leader Jersey as they remain in the Top 4 on the rankings. Smith dispatched Florence in the third Quarterfinal match-up. The 2016 WSL Champion could not find the scores to close the 1.40-point gap and reclaim the yellow Jeep Leader Jersey for the next event. Florence leaves with a back-to-back Quarterfinal result to stay in 2nd on the Leaderboard, only 950 points behind Smith. John John Florence vs. Jordy Smith – Quarterfinals, Heat 3 – Billabong Pro Tahiti
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