“It’s not about how hard you get hit, it’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward,” is a quote that’s relevant in most sporting situations and across many scenarios in everyday life. For Jacob Willcox, it couldn’t be more applicable to his whirlwind 2024, a year where he finally fulfilled his life goal of making the WSL CT only to be dealt a knockout blow when he became a victim of the mid-year cut. Despite the lows, the Australian goofy-footer said that he learnt a lot about himself last year and is raring to cut through the field on the Challenger in 2025 to make it back on the big time.
Jacob’s competitive surfing career which led him to the point of CT qualification last year and his fall back onto the CS were documented as part of his new film ‘Chip’. The 17 minute flick, which you can check out below, is also about his journey of self-discovery and desire to reconnect with the deeper meanings as to why he loves surfing – a feeling that can often get clouded in the mist of the pressures of competitive surfing.
We caught up with Chippo to talk more about his film, reflect on 2024 and discuss his plans for the year ahead.
Tell us a bit about the movie and your reason for wanting to tell your story from making the CT, to being relegated back to the Challenger?
JW: At the start of the year I wasn’t planning to make a movie, all my energy was being put into making sure I made the mid-year cut on the CT. Half way through the year I was knocked off tour, then instantly you just switch into Challenger grind mode and there isn’t much time to think and take it all in. However, after the Challenger event in Narrabeen I was pretty over it and I just needed to get out and go do some surfing for my soul. I did a month’s trip and got loads of clips and after that I realised had some good footage and my brain just kept coming back to the thought of making a movie.
With competing, I often feel shoehorned into the box of just being a competitive surfer. With the movie it allowed me to showcase me actually surfing some good waves, and not just grinding in two foot slop on the Challenger.
Last year was a bit of a rollercoaster for you, qualifying for the CT and then being a victim of the mid-year cut. How did that effect you emotionally and mentally?
JW: It was a good year, I learnt a lot about myself. My dream has always been to make the CT, so that was a blessing. I struggled to find some rhythm in the first couple of events and it’s difficult to claw that back when you only get half a year to make an impression. It was tough emotionally when I was sent back to the Challenger but you have to just suck it up. You’re very much in comp mode still because you’ve got a whole Aussie leg to compete in. It wasn’t until Ballito where It really hit that I was no longer on the CT. Then towards the end of the season on the CS, when I realised I wasn’t going to requalify I just wanted to see the back end of the year and reset.
How does your mindset change when competing on the CT vs the CS?
JW: It’s literally two completely different types of surfing. My standard shortboard on the CT was a 6”1 pin tail and then you go and surf on the Challenger and you’re riding a completely different quiver that’s more dedicated to groveling in beach break waves. It’s a whole different mindset because the waves are so different and so you have to adjust how you surf and how you surf a heat. Especially because on the CT, you’re often just surfing two man heats so you have more of a luxury of picking what waves you want. Whereas on the Challenger it’s a lot more scrappy and more of a dog fight with four man heats.
You had a good crew of Aussies travelling and competing on the CS last year, how much inspiration do you take from seeing guys like George Pittar and Joel Vaughan make the tour?
JW: It’s super motivating and I was so stoked to see the boys qualify. I travelled a lot with them last year and it was only a matter of time before they got on the CT, their surfing speaks for itself.
As someone who has now spent some time on the CT, what would your advice to them be?
JW: Really learn to enjoy the whole experience because it’s so easy to get caught in the pressure of the situation and in the blink of an eye, the experience can pass you by and it can be over. Don’t change anything about yourself, your surfing is clearly good enough as it got you there in the first place. Learn to manage the hype of it all and enjoy the process.
What’s next for you?
JW: I’m currently on the Goldy training and then I’ve got a few trips planned in March and April before the Challenger starts again. I’m going to try and keep the YouTube up, it’s just about finding the balance between posting stuff with meaning and quality, and also posting frequently enough and sharing the fun memories with the boys on the road.
