Jack Robinson's Zen Approach to Surfing and Life
The siren blared as Jack Robinson found himself caught inside a powerful swell at Bells Beach, a moment that would test more than just his surfing skills. The world witnessed an attempted layback and a twist of the knee, but for the world No.1 surfer, the experience transcended mere physical pain. This incident occurred during a winning streak in the 2023 season, where he claimed victory at the Billabong Pro Pipeline Masters in Hawaii and outperformed Kelly Slater in the Rip Curl Pro. However, just days before his heat against wildcard Xavier Huxtable, Robinson received life-altering news: his wife, model and creative Julia Muniz Robinson, was pregnant.
"Everything happened at once," Robinson reveals in an interview. "I found out Julia was pregnant that week, and then I got the injury—it was just all of these emotions at once. I had to drive around in the car for an hour just to think about it and process it." For many, such a drive might lead to spiraling thoughts, but for Robinson, it was a chance to calm internal chaos. This mindset is hardly surprising from a surfer known for meditating cross-legged before competitions, with yoga and meditation as daily non-negotiables.
Overcoming Injury and Embracing Lessons
Robinson reflects on the period leading up to his injury, admitting, "I was kind of forcing things a bit back then. I was a bit stressed with everything, and I got injured but kept going because the Olympics were coming up. How I got injured was forcing a turn and pushing really hard—I think I shouldn't force things so much. It taught me a lot. But now I'm good, I'm all fixed." This fixation on recovery refers to his November 2025 surgery for a "gnarly" meniscus injury sustained at Bells Beach. Remarkably, he surfed and won on that injury for years, including securing a silver medal at the Paris Olympics, before opting for surgery.
"All of those years were adding up, I didn't want it to linger," he explains. "I wanted to be back. I was already winning events at 80 percent—I want to be a little bit better and hopefully win a lot more." Currently, Robinson is navigating a New Zealand airport ahead of the 2026 Championship Tour in Raglan, feeling tired yet ready to compete again. "I was dreaming about this when I was on the operating bed," he shares. "My body is fully recovered, and now it's more mental, going through the motions. The more surfing you do, the better it gets. I do so much training, now it's just getting everything connected."
Family Life and Global Adventures
Since gracing the cover alongside his wife in 2021, much has changed for Robinson. Married in 2020 after meeting in Bali, the couple now travels the world with their two-year-old son, Zen. The toddler has his mother's deep brown eyes and latte skin, but his smile is unmistakably Jack's—a grin that has charmed West Australians and global fans since his days as a fearless eight-year-old grommet. Robinson's journey from a headstrong youngster to beating surfing legends has been marked by this enduring calm and positivity.
When Julia suggested the name Zen, it felt perfectly fitting. The toddler shares his parents' love for the ocean and travel, fluently switching between English and Portuguese, the latter a secret language with his mum. Robinson is back taking classes to keep up. "He's definitely both of us, he's got his personality, though I was pretty cheeky when I was young too," Robinson says. "He's got character and personality—he pulls the same looks at me. It's a miracle, so special."
Based on the Gold Coast for convenience, the family enjoys a gypsy-like lifestyle, with Zen proving to be a happy traveller. "He's really good on the plane, he just runs the aisles, but it's a challenge for sure," Robinson notes. "We travel halfway across the world and then I'm competing . . . but it's also the best times of our lives, these memories we're making. It adds more substance and meaning to life, you do things 100 percent because everything has a bigger purpose."
Brand Partnerships and Homecoming
A recent collaboration with fine jeweller Linneys has brought the family back to the South West, with Robinson and Julia announced as brand partners. Shot against surf breaks and vineyards, Robinson praises it as some of the best pictures taken of him in years, and he plans to wear the pieces on tour. Julia adds, "I'm naturally drawn to jewellery you can actually live in—pieces that move with you and become part of your everyday rhythm."
This partnership also precedes Robinson's return for the Margaret River Pro in April, where he'll paddle into the waves of his youth. Handling home-crowd expectations with ease, he states, "Everyone's looking at me, and it's cool—it's good they're looking at me, it's good that people are excited. It's all about how you process it and make sure you don't put too much pressure on yourself. Everyone is going to come out firing because they've had six months off, and they're going to be really excited. So, I've just got to be mindful and know there's a long year ahead, it's not just about one event."
Robinson's deep knowledge of local breaks, honed from riding with veterans as a youth, gives him an edge. He credits Taj Burrows, who launched Taj's Small Fries 21 years ago, as a key influence. Robinson thrived in this junior event, beating older surfers and sharing the stage with talents like Jacob Wilcox and Bronte Macaulay. Now, he envisions taking over such initiatives, saying, "100 percent I want to do an event like that, for sure. Maybe Taj can hand it over one day and I can take the torch."
The Margaret River Pro runs from April 16 to 26, with Linneys showcasing designs from April 13 to 18 at 135 Bussell Highway, Margaret River.
