Well, that didn't take long. On day one, just four heats into Round Two of the Quiksilver Pro France, a pair of World Title hopefuls have already seen their chances diminished significantly. Perhaps the sharpest blow was dealt to World No. 3 Julian Wilson who, just eight weeks ago following his victory at the Billabong Pro Tahiti, was the hottest surfer on Tour. Wilson pulled an unfortunate draw in Round Two, facing local wildcard Marc Lacomare, who used local knowledge (specifically, the opposite side of the sandbar) to take the win. The loss will do significant damage to Wilson's World Title aspirations.
The local French standout puts a huge dent in Wilson's World Title aspirations.
World No. 7 Filipe Toledo, on the other hand, was hampered in his Round Two defeat to Miguel Pupo by a painful rib injury caused, innocuously enough, by picking up his toddler. WSL physio, Dr. Chris Prosser, had Toledo's back covered with structural tape, described by Ronnie Blakey as looking like a "human hashtag," but the Brazilian was clearly in significant discomfort despite putting up a good fight against Pupo, who's ranked No. 30. Toledo's early exit probably ends any chance at capturing his first World Title in 2017.
Filipe Toledo - WSL / Damien Poullenot
Filipe Toledo and Julian Wilson Eliminated from Quik Pro France
Brad Drew
Well, that didn't take long. On day one, just four heats into Round Two of the Quiksilver Pro France, a pair of World Title hopefuls have already seen their chances diminished significantly. Perhaps the sharpest blow was dealt to World No. 3 Julian Wilson who, just eight weeks ago following his victory at the Billabong Pro Tahiti, was the hottest surfer on Tour. Wilson pulled an unfortunate draw in Round Two, facing local wildcard Marc Lacomare, who used local knowledge (specifically, the opposite side of the sandbar) to take the win. The loss will do significant damage to Wilson's World Title aspirations.
World No. 7 Filipe Toledo, on the other hand, was hampered in his Round Two defeat to Miguel Pupo by a painful rib injury caused, innocuously enough, by picking up his toddler. WSL physio, Dr. Chris Prosser, had Toledo's back covered with structural tape, described by Ronnie Blakey as looking like a "human hashtag," but the Brazilian was clearly in significant discomfort despite putting up a good fight against Pupo, who's ranked No. 30. Toledo's early exit probably ends any chance at capturing his first World Title in 2017.
Julian Wilson
Check every 9 since 2018 as we gear up for a return to the North Shore at the Lexus Pipe Pro presented by Yeti. Featuring Kelly Slater,
The 10th stop on tour and the final proving ground as the world's best look to clinch their spots in the Rip Curl WSL Finals. Take a look
Featuring Ethan Ewing, Tatiana Weston-Webb, Italo Ferreira, Jordy Smith, Samuel Pupo, Jack Robinson. Yago Dora, Gabriel Medina, Carissa
Featuring Gabriel Medina, Lakey Peterson, Filipe Toledo, Yago Dora, Carissa Moore, Johanne Defay, and Julian Wilson.
A slight uptick in swell provided moments of high-caliber surfing from the Challenger Series' contingent looking to crack a big result.
Quiksilver Pro France
The World Title Race crashes the shores of coastal France.
Top scores and waves from 2017.