Julian Wilson’s incredible run from the trial to the title has fallen just short with the Australian surfing veteran beaten in an epic final at the Gold Coast Pro.

The 36-year-old squared off against Felipe Toledo in the title decider which was a repeat of their 2015 final, also won by the Brazilian, and was edged in a thriller 17.60 to 17.20.

Fellow Australian Sally Fitzgibbons also went down swinging in the women’s final at Burleigh Heads with Hawaii’s Bettylou Sakura Johnson claiming her first World Surf League trophy.

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After almost four years away from the tour, Wilson claimed the sole wildcard for the main event by winning the pre-competition trial and then surfed his way all the way through to Saturday’s final.

He and two-time world champion Toledo went blow for blow, with the crowd packed on the headland roaring their approval for both veterans for their lofty airs and searing turns.

In his first final for 2025 after taking last season off, Toledo, who scored a perfect 10 ride in his semi-final, set the benchmark early with an 8.53 which he backed up with a 9.07.

Former world No.2 Wilson kept hammering, with his top scoring waves of 8.80 and 8.40 coming in the back-end of the final in a heated finish between the rivals.

But in the end there was no fairytale finish and fifth title for the Sunshine Coast product, who will compete in the Challenger Series next year.

“It’s not easy to step away from the thing you love to prioritise your family and watch from the sidelines and I guess these surfers inspire me so much,” said an emotional Wilson.

“This is what I was born to do. My kids got to share it this week and it’s been super, super special.”

Seeking her first CT title since a win at Rottnest Island in 2021, Fitzgibbons was also denied by the Hawaiian young gun.

The 34-year-old threw everything at her young rival, surfing a mammoth 13 waves, but fell short with a two-wave score of 7.83 to Sakura Johnson’s impressive tally of 15.33.

The Gerroa surfer went to the air four times, trying to stick a landing that would give her a score to put her back in contention, but she was unable to seal the deal.

“I wanted to get it together so bad in that final but it was Betty’s day,” Fitzgibbons said.

“It’s been a fight and a grind in the last few years, but I want to be here and my deep desire is to keep surfing.”

It was Sakura Johnson’s second win of the day over a local hope after earlier eliminating top-ranked Australian Molly Picklum in the quarter-finals.

“This is the best feeling in the world, and I’m over the moon to have my first win here on the Gold Coast,” said Sakura Johnson, competing in her second final after bursting on to the scene as a 16-year-old.

“This is what winning feels like, and I want to keep winning.”

Fitzgibbons outscored Erin Brooks in the semi-finals earlier in the day, with the Canadian wunderkind eliminating six-time Gold Coast champion and eight-time world title holder Stephanie Gilmore in the quarters.

With Gilmore’s former coach Jake Patterson in her corner, Brooks used superior wave selection to get the better of the Australian legend, who is due to return to the tour full-time next year.