Crystal Cylinders
Byron Bay’s Matt Wilkinson has put on a stellar performance to reach the quarterfinals at the MEO Rip Curl Pro in Portugal.
Matt Wilkinson was defeated by Gabriel Medina in the second quarterfinal.
‘Wilko’ stuck to a different peak with clean little rights to exploit on his backhand but eventually bowed out in equal fifth place at Supertubos.
Wilkinson has jumped up four spots on the ratings ladder and is now in 24th place.
If he can make the top 22 ranked surfers on the year-end WSL Championship Tour rankings it would would guarantee him re-qualification for the 2019 Championship tour.
Both the men’s and women’s World Titles will also be decided in Hawaii from next month.
Australia’s Stefanie Gilmour is in position to win her seventh women’s title.
America’s Lakey Peterson is in second place and needs to win the Beachwaver Maui Pro to have any chance of taking the title from Gilmore.
However, even a victory for Peterson would only ensure a surf-off.
Additionally, if Gilmore finishes a third or better in Maui, a win for Peterson still wouldn’t be enough.
