You couldn’t blame Matt Wilkinson for waiting out his round three heat against Bruno Santos. In the heat prior he’d watched Kelly post a 17.50 total after finding a couple of genuine Teahupoo tubes. Wilko figured there had to be a couple more cherries so he waited, waited and waited, and didn’t catch a wave until there was five minutes remaining. By then Santos already had half a dozen waves under his belt and a defendable lead.
It was always going to be a battle between the fox and a hairy-nosed wombat. Both know how to burrow, but in a race through narrow tunnels you’re generally going to back the fox.While Wilko sat patiently anticipating the pit that would accommodate his greater girth, the diminutive Santos, who stands only 5’5”, darted and ducked through mini barrels until he had literally out-foxed his Australian opponent.
As they watched the slow moving horror show unfold, it's not hard to imagine Rip Curl executives excusing themselves so that they could walk into an empty room and scream loudly. Bruno is a valued member of the Rip Curl camp, but when he knocks out Wilko, the Rip Curl prodigal son who has returned with a shot at the world title, it must feel like swallowing razor blades for team RC. There were shades of last year when Medina controversially went to the air at Pipe to end Fanning’s chances of a fourth title.
Santos is a Teahupoo specialist who was never going to be stifled by the long-maned Australian’s title aspirations. Santos won the event in 2008 and as a serial wildcard it’s his annual chance to shine on the world stage. Later in the day he further emphasized his Chopes aficionado status by claiming the prized scalp of an in form Slater in round four.
As Teahpoo barrels towards a climax (possibly tomorrow) Wilko now finds himself with Medina and John John John trying to rip that yellow jersey off his chest and over his Samson locks. Even the typically mellow John John couldn’t help but let his fangs show a little when quizzed by the WSL about Wilko’s demise. “It’s cool to see him go down and me make it … the world title is still kind of far away but it’s definitely my goal and my whole entire life is heading towards that.”
With John John pre-ordained as a future title winner, Wilko is fighting against destiny. Meanwhile Medina has the advantage of being a previous world champ. He has already experienced and conquered all the psychological pitfalls that can bring a title contender undone.
For Wilko the yellow jersey was initially like a surprise gift or a lotto win. He was the one least anticipating to be wearing it. For several contests he was able to revel in the weightless glory that belongs to the unexpected victor. But now it has become a much heavier thing, it has become something to lose. If Matt does surrender the jersey it will be interesting to see if it inspires him to fight back or fade away. Sometimes you don’t realise how valuable a thing is until you’ve lost it.
Wilko fans will be hoping that his unheralded dash to the forefront of pro surfing will be remembered as more than just a fleeting romance with a yellow jersey. There are indeed many supporters who would love to see Matt go on and win the title, largely because his whole act implies that it is possible to enjoy life to the fullest and still be brilliant when it matters. Isn’t that the dream of every man and woman?
Sentimentalism aside, Trestles is only two weeks away. Post-heat, a demoralized Wilko was focusing on his desire to start doing turns again. Historically he hasn’t performed well in the US, but the easy-paced cobblestone rollers will definitely provide an opportunity for him to wind up and whip the lip with the backhand attack that won him the year’s first two contests. He can only hope that it hasn’t abandoned him in the past months. Wilko needs to then use the European leg to put some distance between himself and Medina and John John, before entering the Pipe gladiator pit. John John and Gabriel have a Pipe pedigree that far exceeds Wilko’s and if John John has even a sniff of a title there will be Hawaiian henchmen crawling all over Wilko the moment he dangles a curl in North Shore waters.
With four contests to go it’s not so much a sprint to the finish as a grueling 400m effort. Wilko has proven that he can win at the highest level, but now he will have to do something much more difficult than that – he will have to work out how to come back from losses and then win again – the ability to do that is generally considered the true mark of a champion.
Main photo: Wilko simmering after his round three loss to Bruno Santos. WSL/Cestari
