9| Matt Wilkinson
Birthday: September 29, 1988
Hometown: Copacabana, Australia

From backflips to big waves, rodeos to road time, Matt Wilkinson is being groomed for greatness. “He'll easily qualify and be on the world tour in the next couple of years,” tells Ben Dunn. Growing up in the summer resort town of Copacabana, the same town that produced women's WCT standout Rebecca Woods, this goofy-footer started out in the mediocrity of Copa Point, but as all young Aussies quickly discover, Snapper Rock's the place to be. Lethal on his forehand, stylish and powerful on his backhand, he tallied a third place finish at the Billabong World Junior Championships held in Narrabeen this year (falling to Adriano De Souza), finished in the top 100 on the WQS after surfing just half the year due to an injury, took second place on the Australian Pro Junior circuit, as well as won the 2004 16 and Under ISA World Junior title. As a wildcard in the 2005 Rip Curl Search WCT held on Reunion Island he's already received valuable WCT experience, surfing against both Kelly Slater and Joel Parkinson. Slater and Parko handled Wilkinson relatively easily this time around, but at only 18, he's got time on his side. “Him and I see each other a lot in contests,” says Julian Wilson, “but I like just watching him surf, he makes it look effortless, seamless. He's definitely one of Australia's future stars.”