World champ Medina swings a second, CJ retires with pride, Kelly hovers nearby…
Every reader of a sentimental turn must have been pleased with the tableau with which the little drama of the Billabong Pro concluded. For what was better than the resurrection of the non-brain damaged but helmet-wearing Jeremy Flores and the world champion Gabriel Medina, who had previously been having the worst season of his life?
Yeah, the waves got progressively shittier, the swell interval shorter, the wind stronger, and Gabriel tried to hustle Jeremy out of position, failing.
But out of nowhere, Jeremy appeared at the apex of a six-footer, a ride so almost perfect (9.77, two judges calling it a ten), that Jeremy exited and formed an artificial penis over his pubis mons with his hand. Such virility! An orgiastic climax!
“It was impeccable, the flair for dramatics, foam ball drifting… again,” said Peter Mel, the channel commentator.
It was Jeremy’s great tactic, to wait only for sets, for waves that were nine or better, that threw him past Kelly Slater (in Kelly’s 152nd quarter-final), then CJ Hobgood and, finally, Gabriel Medina.
“Exact repeat, he didn’t get frazzled by Gabriel’s frantic tactics. Gabriel started scrambling all over the place; Jeremy steadied the course,” said Ross Williams.
“Had the skills to pay the bills,” said Striker Wasilewski.
Jeremy: “Gabriel is one really tactical guy. I thought I’d play his game and his game is to be really aggressive in the water. So I’d be more aggressive.”
Even radder, is Jeremy’s comeback from a head injury (read here) that kept him from competing at J-Bay. And now he wins? His first, since Pipe in 2010.
Highlights? Yeah, the first wave of the final:
Jeremy vs Kelly Slater, in the quarter finals:
Owen v Gabriel, semi one:
CJ v Jeremy, semi two:
But also, CJ Hobgood winning the AI Award for the Most Committed Surfer:
And, Filipe scored a perfect zero heat in round five! Watch here! But fans of a Filipe world title, fear not! The next event is Trestles. “He’s going to ride a white point down to Trestles! He’s such a stud!” said the commentator Ross Williams.
Billabong Pro Tahiti Final Results:
1: Jeremy Flores (FRA) – 16.87
2: Gabriel Medina (BRA) – 13.20
Billabong Pro Tahiti Semifinal Results:
SF 1: Gabriel Medina (BRA) 16.63 def. Owen Wright (AUS) 8.70
SF 2: Jeremy Flores (FRA) 15.86 def. C.J. Hobgood (USA) 8.93
Billabong Pro Tahiti Quarterfinal Results:
QF 1: Owen Wright (AUS) 16.93 def. Italo Ferreira (BRA) 15.94
QF 2: Gabriel Medina (BRA) 15.64 def. Kai Otton (AUS) 11.00
QF 3: C.J. Hobgood (USA) 12.90 def. Josh Kerr (AUS) 11.16
QF 4: Jeremy Flores (FRA) 16.83 def. Kelly Slater (USA) 15.66
Billabong Pro Tahiti Round 5 Results:
Heat 1: Italo Ferreira (BRA) 15.00 def. Filipe Toledo (BRA) 00.00
Heat 2: Kai Otton (AUS) 13.50 def. Bruno Santos (BRA) 11.76
Heat 3: C.J. Hobgood (USA) 14.36 def. Aritz Aranburu (ESP) 14.00
Heat 4: Jeremy Flores (FRA) 13.37 def. Wiggolly Dantas (BRA) 13.21
2015 WSL Jeep Leaderboard Top 5 (after Billabong Pro Tahiti):
1: Adriano de Souza (BRA) 34,950 pts
2: Mick Fanning (AUS) 34,700 pts
3: Owen Wright (AUS) 34,400 pts
4: Julian Wilson (AUS) 33,200 pts
4: Filipe Toledo (FRA) 33,200 pts
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Yeah, I actually watched it while trying to cure a hangover this weekend. Couldn’t care less about either Gabby or Luan being from Brazil . I would much rather hang with Luan.
Just so I know, how long am I allowed to be a total emotional, single-minded bastard for as a fellow countryman won an event?
Presumably because I’m only half French I only get half the amount of time. So bear that in mind.
It all depend’s in which Country you live in… I’d give you about 30 minutes in Australia before someone punches you out, 45 minutes in New Zealand before you suddenly realize you are alone in the room.
In the States you could probably milk the high fives for a week as others success is highly regarded.
Im pretty sure even the French wouldn’t be claiming a Reunion Islander as one of their own?
But here, you got till tomorrow.
Cool thanks for clearing that up. I was concerned about my legal footing when I start proclaiming Jeremy as the greatest surfer of all time and how John John is clearly a total failure of massive proportions. In fact, he should be shot. They all should be shot. All of them.
Sorry, I’m getting carried away with how emotionally connected to the WSL I am.
I think you’re overestimating the gusto of most surfers in the States for our countrymen in competitive surfing. If Kolohe Andino or Brett Simposon were to win a WCT event…okay, well, that’s clearly a terrible hypothetical, but there is little to no enthusiasm for our national representatives on the world’s surfing stage. Don’t worry, we seem to make it up in EVERY OTHER spot possible.
Other than the girl who had one last year at cloudbreak (Lakey, maybe?), who had the last waveless heat? Yadin came close in HB against The King a few years ago, I think…
There is no shame in going wave less at 1ft HB however.
did cj REALLY not know there was a guy sitting next to him while describing his best ever loss to rosie?:someone, on a small boat btw, holding the biggest, ugliest and heaviest trophy ever? he did seem truly surprised a guy was sitting next to him with that thing. that thing forever celebrating hard core drug addiction and overdosing.
CJ, always trying to do the right thing, always ready to pluck the strange fruit required of him. Rejoice in the lie!
I can’t argue with sentimentality of giving it to CJ. At the same time, those airs Italo was trying were insane!
Gave us the best music as well as the best surfing. Just one more paradox.
Who’s Nyjah Huston?
Vegan skater! Much prizemoney!
Medina is the Nyjah Huston of surfing. Technically strong but somehow boring. Also seems like he may be sort of a bummer to hang out with.
Fantastic comparison. I feel the same about PRod, too.
You don’t like P-Rod? Here’s something cute: Chas’ wife is his agent! And this, tell me it doesn’t make your spirit soar!
https://www.youtube.com/wat….
I take it back! I take it back! I love him for putting the proverbial meat on the Smith/Wallace table! And that is a great commercial (like nearly all Nike commercials). Let’s put it this way: PRod’s about 1000x better than Sheckler.
You don’t love Life of Ryan?
https://www.youtube.com/wat…
The only thing good about that commercial is the fact that the people that made it and their assorted team of rag-tag sub-contractors made a shit-load of dollar dollar bills yo…
I’ve never heard of P-Rod! Should I be name dropping him when conversing with youth-folk?
God no. Get down with the kids and throw in the odd Dylan Rieder, Sean Pablo and say you’re really into Bianca Chandon’s new range.
Dylan Rieder, so white tee, so black jean, so beautiful! But why the haircut?
Channeling an inner American History X