Watch: Two minutes of Medina
Here's Gabriel Medina's ranking after the Aussie leg for the last five years:
- 2015 - 16th
- 2016 - 18th
- 2017 - 11th
- 2018 - 7th
- 2019 - 12th
He's a late riser is Gabs, takes a while to warm up, get the revs ticking over, which usually doesn't happen till mid-year when he finds his range, collecting dais finishes, and hauling in the frontrunners.
Only once has he exploded out of the blocks at Snapper, Bells, and Margs. That was back in 2014 when he won Snapper - beat Parko in the final - and after three comps left Australia wearing yellow, holding it all the way to Hawaii and his first world title.
And this year? Who knows, but this two minute edit shot in Indo will hush the naysayers.
Comments
Miles ahead.
He smiled. Not sure if that's a good thing or not.
All lefts.
My theory for Gab’s slow starts is, though Gabs has a great backhand, I reckon going right doesn’t thrill him. He looks at the opening three righthand turning locations and it all seems like hard work. He’s just not stoked, I reckon.
Medina was arguably the best at Bells last year.
Yes, JJF was good, but he did the same layback 20 times.
And I'd watch him do it 20 more times...
Me too.
Heat analyser is your friend, then :-)
This.
Also J-bay against Italo was the best backside surfing Ive seen from the both of them. I don't think he has any issue going right... if you can surf backside that good, you would probably froth on it.
Me too love that power layback. Gabs just does the snap as many times or a floater I don't reckon he has that really big carving game but he was amazing at Hellish Bells in his wave choice and placement of turns. The guy is a surgeon in the surf.
What he brings to the table that Italo and Toledo don’t as much is a big wave game. The reason Kelly was so successful was cause he could win in everything. A lot of the guys on tour are either charging when it’s heavy or going technical when it is small.
Toledo yes. Italo is a mad man in big, heaving surf
Italo goes well in big surf but I wouldn't say it is his forte. If you're expecting Italo to lose heats in would be in pumping chopes not 3 foot snapper. Medina is almost a sure thing in heavy waves.
Still a goose
I WAS a huge fan and admirer of Medina. Now I have purposefully NOT watched the video as I will boycott the guy still in disgust of the DROP IN at Pipe. Rules or no rules, accepted by WSL or not. I think the whole spirit of surfing took a huge blow.
Roger that Robo a big goose in the water. From what everybody says it is a Jekyll and Hyde thing, once he hits water he turns, out of the water nice as pie. Not really sure why you need to be such an arsehole in the water but.
It does look like that, although I have surfed with him quiet a few times (at Bells) in the warm up to the contest - he used to get down very early - and honestly he was the nicest guy to surf with. Actually a lot better than many of the grumpy old men out there, who think they have a god given right to a wave :)
Thanks Overhead Valve, if that is the case then paraphrasing Goofy I will "just have to let it go for Christs sake!"
Hey mem' - first person who knows what OHV means :))
I am a bit of motorhead as well. I guess your tag is for the old Torana SLR 5000?
HaHa - I hadn't thought of that one.
I have a 1929 Ariel OHV 500cc motorbike. Way back when OHV was the new thing, but the valves are exposed :)
Ha, the rest of the swellnettians will be sick of this. On my yearly lap of Tassie on a motorbike last year we stopped at Ross for a vintage motorcycle meet and they had this old French bike (around WW1 vintage) which was overhead valve and shaft drive and all the valves were totally exposed and the whole engine looked like it was moving. Was a hoot to look at and the guy riding it was a total boffin.
An old girlfriend of mines parents had a super-fine Merino farm just outside of Ross. Dad had a 308 GT4 Ferrari, unusually in white.
I don't think it had overhead valves.
Yeah it did and overhead cams. Lovely spot and friendly people especially to motorbikes. We got clocked well over 130k's by some cops and they said just take it easy and let us off. All smiles and discussion about the bikes we had. Awesome.
of course- i meant exposed OHV's.
not the prettiest of Ferrari's, i liked the preceding Dino with its sexy curves.
Love Tassie, another place I could easily settle in.
Sorry I thought you might not have been moto illiterate. Me too every year after the ride I tell my wife that.
Me too, i love that little map of Tassie, i could easily settle in, & i tell my wife that after every ride!!..... & my overhead valves & shaft are always exposed!!
Mr Mick you are a charmer!
Yes that comment deserves a gold star :) well done.
Just a sticker, not the bike.
TAS is great on a bike - actually own some land down there - on the beach. (just to bring it back to surf) fantastic place.
Yeah a mate from the Peninsula has a place at Falmouth which is great just don't eat at the Scamander pub.....they deep fry the entire meal plate and all.
Haha yes know Falmouth well - my land is just down the road in Seymour.
Good coffee in Scamander 'waves' shipping container and you can checkout the river mouth while having breakie :)
I hot excited thinking you were a moto morini 500 for some reason.
perfect :))
Stu Parko was robbed so I don't reckon that is such a claim. His air and tube game is incredible, his carving game still not convinced. Doesn't seem to throw is whole body into it and finish the turn like Mick, Parko, Ewing, etc... to my eyes anyway it is almost just a filler rather than the main event.
Nah, he wasn't.
I watched that final live and Parko didn't even know what Gabs was doing down the line, yet everyone else saw him blasting multiple upside down reos.
Parko's problem was thinking that taking off behind the rock counted for something. Nothing about that in the rules and regulations and never has been.
"Nothing about that in the rules and regulations and never has been"
But you would agree different locations are, traditionally, scored vastly different based on their known "features" right? so a wicked technical air in say Rio scores much higher than an identical air at Pipe or Chopes cos everyone knows the latter is all about the barrel. No one cares about the air, even though its every bit as difficult (if not moreso) at that location.
Snapper is the same imo...everyone who surfs there knows when conditions permit and it's barreling from behind the rock, negotiating the backwash entry is the high-risk jewel in the crown the place is famous for. A bunch of high-quality turns through little marley are by all means appreciated, but if conditions permit (which they did that day) the most treasured rides (and quality surfers) start behind the rock.
I am a pretty big fan of Medina's surfing but tend to agree Parko was hard done by there. Each to their own tho.
Well articulated and it is what I mean't by ripped off. I watched it live and the turns were good but it is a soft wave compared to out the back. It's a point wave not a beachie. I think the trouble was Parko didn't get the sealer.
Jeez Mem u gotta let it go brother, you seem to be looking for every tiny thing to knock him about, the blokes a fucking freak.
Parko called him the most talented surfer he's ever seen, reckon Parko would say that if he cant put it on rail?
I'm not a Medina lover either, but you've gotta be honest, he's insane
I don't deny the guy is a freak and incredible to watch but even GOAT never had the rail game Mick and the boys had and I personally don't reckon any of the Brazilians look the goods on rail. Not saying he isn't 85% there, just not as good. Can you honestly say that? He isn't as good on rail as JJF either to my eye, what do do you think? No doubt he will win a few more World Champs as he is that good and probably with JJF the best around. Sorry but I am a rail lover first and foremost which is why I can't let it go.
I agree about the jjf comparison, not even close to him on rail. I just find a lot of people bag Medina because he comes across as a petulant fuckstick in the water. He may be.
But he’s an incredible surfer in pretty much every condition except XL-XXL like jjf
How is he not also incredible in XL-XXL swell? I immediately thought of his final at chopes with Kelly. He didn't take a backwards step in absolutely pumping 12-15 ft chopes. I don't know where else could be considered XXL if not that swell at that spot. He may not have abundant freesurf footage (or feel inclined to release what he does have) of him tearing into large surf like JJF, but you know that dude ripped Maresais apart growing up and has proven time and again when it's on, he charges just as hard as JJF. Fan of both of them, and the only point of difference I can find is their style.
I must be the only one here who thinks JJF has bigger man turns. That effort at Margarets was so much fun to watch. Med almost seems clinical to me, and your right about big barrels left and right, he is the real thing.
You're not alone, mate. Clinical vs power, style....and panache....no contest.
JJf at margarets was the tithe best surfing I’ve ever seen - class of his own
JJF at Margies is the highlights!
“ he charges just as hard as JJF. ”
Nah, he doesn’t.
I’d call Puerto, Massive Fiji, Jaws, Waimea, Hawaiian outer reefs etc xxl, and Florence goes as hard as anyone at those spots.
Xxl isnt 10ft chopes, which Medina is amazing at btw
Insane surfer, zero style.
Gabe - Sucker
JJF - Funky Drummer
Yeah love him or hate him Gabs is a beast of a surfer got the whole package going.I mean it wouldn't be the same if came over like jj....all nice and apple pie ...surfing needs real characters like Meds....boring otherwise.
still loved the lefts he was on
Might not be aesthetically the best but sure as fuck is technically the best in the world.
If you were watching that from the water your mind would have to be blown I reckon.
fuck that was sik, reminds me of watching old andy footage just going beserko..bout time a decent surf edit has come out..sik of this hipster jjj shit that people always seem to be tracking and the crap 3 to the beach edits to..
Him, J robbo and Mason have the 3 best edits or flicks to watch atm..good surfing good tunes..more please
Love it ! OHV.
I'm a grease monkey and I surf.
It is good to read a little about bikes and things as well as surf talk.
Breaks it up a bit .
Its the everything in moderation go, that can't be bad for ya.
Thanks 69Long'. Love my motors and love the surf - good combo I think :)
https://www.rideapart.com/articles/255343/motorcycle-history-shaft-driv…
Oh yeah, Medina.
The bloke can do next level stuff on big waves as good as it gets, I believe.
It's pretty well known how i feel about Grubby, especially in regards to sportsmanship but he is an incredible surfer and the complete package in my eyes.
That backhand surfing at solid J-Bay was next level. I can watch JJF surf all day but i can watch Medina too. Difference is, i'm (ashamed to say) always willing Grubs to implode.
Air air air - maybe they feel good to do. Some must feel like flying but lots must feel like jumping off a rock wall onto the sand - a jarring thump back onto the board. If they did not score well and make good still photos they would not be so common.
Yeah but where's the style?
Technically incredible and will practice those airs until they are second nature but you know that's what you're going to get with Gabs. JJF, Italo, Filipe even Jordy when he's on song all better to watch imo because they have individual style and you're never quite sure.
Maybe Gabs is just too good/clinical and makes it look too easy but feels like ive seen this all before.
Hypercriticism notwithstanding.
Better style than Kelly and his windmilling arms.
Also, one thing that really good surfers do well (imho) is connect big, powerful manoeuvres with flow. E.g., Jordy does a massive hack at J Bay, but forgets to flow into the next bottom turn., so runs out of speed and is lost.
JJF did it so well at the 17 Margies comp, but his much-praised Bells performance left me wanting. Same bloody layback on every wave, well telegraphed, no real madness in those turns.
KS has connected one or two big powerful maneuvers in his time. Possibly the most barreled human on the planet as well. But yeah, not as easy on the eye as his contemporaries at times.
True what you say about flow, Medina has that down. Very rare he doesn't squeeze the pips out of a wave, very calculated. But lacking panache. I'd watch those JJF laybacks all day.
Let's not get flow confused with transition, gentlemen. Funky Cold has little flow, but he does knows how to transition from turn to turn or air to turn or whatever. He's good at it, no doubt. But he flows like a robot compared to KS, let alone compared to any of the hipsters. It's all cold calculation, very impressive technically, but there's no soul. And as for sportsmanship....
Good Ad clip, was he riding a surfboard or a billboard? Perhaps Ripcurl could make him some boardies with all his sponsors all over them so Charlie wouldn't have to spend all day sticking stickers on his soon to be broken boards. His boards may even be more Hydrodynamic then as well.
Look out for G-land he is going to rip
Ugly surfing, ugly boardies and ugly edit. Who is their target market? Turbos on jetskis?
Lest we forget
I'd like to see him in a skate bowl.
Its like he is riding a skatey on water
Nah, His style is still shit. Apart from being a total dickhead who gets away with lame acts no one else does because they are all shit scared of Charlie and his suss connections. One day a surfing journo will pull his head out of the pro's arses long enough to tell the truth. But then, they never did with Andy's addiction either. I wont hold my breath.
Enjoyed seeing him outta a contest rashie and moving a bit more freely. Would be good to see a few more of the top brazzo's release some clips instead of just seeing their contest routines. Some amazing waves in that clip....hows that one he backdoors and pops out of. Ridiculous.
Was Charlie lead vocals on that clip and the name of the song “burn him”?
"And this year? Who knows, but this two minute edit shot in Indo will hush the naysayers."
That seems like click-bait to the haters and trolls.! No one seems to divide the room like Medina does.
I feel one thing is really over-looked in pro surfing....spontaneity and imagination. If I can project what a surfer is going to do, then it becomes repetitive no matter what you're doing, or how good you are at it.
Medina falls into that basket for me as you can see it coming a mile away....loosing any sense of "Shit, I didn't see that coming" along the way.
We all define who rips the most in different ways, but after surfing and watching surfing for 40 years, nothing excites me like an unexpected line or angle.
....and in my honest opinion, no one does that like the Goat...
I'm still unable to project what he will do on a wave and the variation in his turns is still unmatched to this day.
I don't put Slater on a cloud because he has 11 titles, it's because he is still drawing new lines.
This!!! well said Lilas
He sure does shred hard
But technically a lot of his airs are either cased or landed on the flat which in skate and snow terms is a fail. Airs are only good to watch when landed high in the tranny losing no speed. Yes it is way harder to land properly on the wave as the tranny is not static. I would put money on him being a kook on a skateboard whereas JJF( who probably is technically superior in the air ) probably goes alright.
Snowboarders don't do airs. They do jumps. If your feet are connected to the board and you're not generating your own speed then it's a jump. Like what you do on a motorbike. Surfing airs are orders of magnitude more difficult. This is why only maybe one in a thousand surfers can actually do them. Skateboarding airs are somewhere in between in difficulty, however the danger level is much higher (especially on concrete with no pads) which probably puts them on a par.
I agree with everything else you said though. Ha ha!
No one actually liked Kelly either but he won us over with his creativity, audacity & spontaneity. Gabs is glued to his board like no-one else but he may well expose his cams & blow a valve which we all find extremely entertaining. Waiting for him to get in a punch on with the old man in front of the world when he refuses to burn an opponent.
So that was just an ad for boardshorts.
Love/hate him. Happy to see him so some gnarly shit. Happy to see him lose. Things that come to mind were his backdoor barrel at pipe 2018 and his kerrupt flip run in the pool in 2019, and those drawn out j-bay speed lines/whips.
Over on Youtube the WSL just dropped a 'best of' JJF in competition.
I'm not sorry to say but JJ's variety and spontaneity and outright freakish ability leaves Mr. Punt-punt Launch is his wake.
It pains me to say it, if Gab gets the same waves as who he is surfing against... he wins. He just has it all, JJF, Julian, Felipe and Italo are all phenoms but this cat just has the recipe. Doesn't matter the conditions. Wish he had some hang ups. Go Jack Robbo!!!!