Julian Wilson (AUS) after meeting Filipe Toledo (BRA) in the season opener on the Gold Coast. The result is his best ever in Fiji after a previous Quarterfinal against Kelly Slater (USA) in 2012 and will see him move from 8^th to 5^th place on the ratings. Wilson previously dispatched Taj Burrow (AUS) and Italo Ferreira (BRA) today on his way to the Final. “It was a great event and a great result,” said Wilson. “I’m super happy with the result for sure. I couldn’t even hear the scores out there but I knew I was in a tough spot. To get two 20’s in one event is incredible, it was Owen’s turn and I’m so happy for him. He’s got some wind beneath his wings again and congratulations to him. I did everything in my power and I just couldn’t do it, Owen was just so on. I just want to put a good year together and get some consistent results. I’ll just focus on each event and second place is a good result. Hopefully the ocean comes my way next time.” Today’s Semifinal berth for Jeremy Flores (FRA) marks a great result for the new world no. 10, coming off the back of his worst season on the CT in 2014. This is the Frenchman’s best ever showing in Fiji and his first Semifinal appearance since 2012, when he faced Kelly Slater (USA) at Bells Beach. Flores faced eventual winner Owen Wright (AUS) in a thrilling back-and-forth Semifinal battle. “Every time I was paddling out this contest it was pulsing so I’m happy with that,” Flores said. “I’m a bit bummed not to make the Final but you can’t be too disappointed when you get to surf in pumping waves with just one other guy out. It’s really positive for me. I’m feeling really good at the moment and Jeffreys Bay is one of those really good waves and I love it there. I’ve never had a great result there so this year I’m hoping to do something this year.” 2015 marks 18 years amongst the world’s best for Taj Burrow (AUS) and his result at the Fiji Pro today is his best of the season and the first Semifinal appearance since Bells Beach last year. An all-Australian match-up against eventual runner-up Wilson saw Burrow leave the competition in third place, equalling his top result at the Fiji Pro, and moves him up three places on the rankings to 6th.   “Was unfortunate not to find a rhythm out there today,” Burrow said. “I can’t be unhappy with a Semifinals finish though. We had pumping surf here and I was stoked to get on a bit of a roll before we head into a really fun leg of events.” 2012 World Champion Joel Parkinson (AUS), who posted the first perfect 10 of the competition yesterday in Round 4, went down to Wright in the Quarterfinals. The fifth place finish sees him move up to 15th place on the Jeep Leaderboard and equals his best result in Fiji. Today also marks his top result of 2015 after his worst start to a season in his 15 years on tour. Kai Otton (AUS) caused several upsets at the Fiji Pro this year after eliminating three-time WSL Champion Mick Fanning (AUS) from the competition in Round 5 and reigning WSL Champion and defending event winner Gabriel Medina (BRA) in Round 3. Otton was forced to exit the competition after a heavy wipeout in his match-up against Flores but takes home his first Quarterfinal finish since the Pipe Masters last year. “I got scorpioned harder than I’ve ever been scorpioned before in my life,” said Otton. “My knees went into the reef and I flipped over. Initially I was pretty worried and my legs felt tingly but it subsided by the time I got to the boat. We’ll see what the report says tonight on the injury but I’m feeling pretty good right now so I reckon I’ll be at the next event.” The two Brazilian rookies, Italo Ferreira (BRA) and Wiggolly Dantas (BRA), were both eliminated in the Quarterfinals today at the hands of Wilson and Burrow respectively. The pair have each had a great run of form through the competition with Ferreira eliminating four-time Fiji Pro winner and 11-time World Champion Kelly Slater in Round 5, while Dantas won through each round of competition before facing Burrow today The next stop on the 2015 Samsung Galaxy WSL Championship Tour will be the J-Bay Open from July 8 – 19, 2015. Highlights from the Fiji Pro will be available via WorldSurfLeague.com.]]>