“I’m living little kids’ dreams – mine included.”

There are plenty of 19-year-old Australians who ride surfboards – but none of them are as exceptional as Julian Wilson. Recently he won the O’Neill Mission in Les Landres, France, and the Brothers Neilsen Pro on the Gold Coast – and called it, "the best final I've ever had."

Julian, do you have any idea what hero deeds you’ve performed in your past life?

If I knew, I’d be doing them again now to make sure I’m as lucky in my next life!

We were asking because many people think you couldn’t have done better, karma-wise: You’re good looking, really fit; you surf professionally, and your home is one of the most beautiful places on earth. How warped is this idea of your life?

It’s not something that I’m all that conscious about. I just seem to do my thing day after day and it just happens to be a lot of little kids’ dreams, mine included.

Behind the sunny facade there’s a very profound guy. How much did your mother’s breast cancer – which you experienced as a child – contribute to your maturity?

Mum getting sick was a major upset but I was too young to realise the seriousness of it. Now that I’m old enough to understand how big a problem cancer is, I like to do anything I can to help the fight.

Last year you competed with a pink board. Will you also be campaigning for the Breast Cancer Foundation this year?

Until they find a cure or I’m dead, I’ll always be helping out in one way or another.

In 2007 you won the SURFER Poll award for Performance of the Year and are considered one of the most promising talents of the future in your sport. In light of such pressure, how important was winning the Brothers Neilsen Pro Junior, your first win this year, for your self-confidence?

Winning at Duranbah was just what I needed to really kick of my year. I had two runner-up finishes already but hadn’t quite broken through with a win. It led to winning the O’Neill mission in France the following week, so it definitely didn’t hurt my confidence!

That probably helped you in the duel with Jayke Sharp – one that was open right up to the end because the two of you were constantly changing the lead. How did you experience this contest?

The waves at D-bah were really fun all week and the highlight was the final with Sharpy. When we were leaving the water after the final I said to him, ‘That was the best final I’ve ever had with someone, competition-wise.’

The conditions at Duranbah Beach and Les Landres were very different. Which waves do you like to surf the best?

I prefer a 4-to-6 foot wave like Bells beach or Keramas (Bali).

You’ve already put your stamp on surfing with the ‘Sushi Roll’. Are you practicing your next trick in secret?

No, things like that just happen when you’re surfing. I don’t plan them before I paddle out.

What typical moves or characteristics would we be able to discern on the water if you weren‘t wearing any sponsor logos?

Nothing in particular. If I don’t have logos on my board, just look out for my designs, drawn by Mum.

You’re not only a fantastic contest rider but you’re also active when it comes to surfing films. How’s the work going with Taylor Steele for C3?

Filming for Taylor finished about a month ago for me, after I did a trip to Lakey Peak with his filmer, Ivan, and friends Dusty Payne and Kalani Robb. It was a great trip to finish things off with because we were all pushing each other to get sick stuff, in really fun waves.

Talking about sick stuff … What’s been the weirdest experience so far that had to do with a surfboard? The show at the Sunway Lagoon wavepool in front of 25,000 people?

I think that would be the craziest thing I’ve done that has to do with surfing for sure. It felt like I was a basketball player with thousands of people all around me, and so close.