…where John John loses, but only just, as Gabriel rigs his sails, finally!
World title defences are, for the most, subdued and Gabriel Medina, currently wearing a shame face in fifteenth, is nothing if not conformist.
What we’ve forgotten in the furious gale of Toledo-fever is that Gabriel has a weird witchcraft. This ability to look like he’s sleep-walking and…yet… grab his competitors by the throat and fling their carcass out of an event. It’s incomprehensible and awful to some, genius to others.
Did you watch his round three with John John? As uncanny as John John’s tube riding is, as much as his post-barrel turns take your breath away, as much as he collects nines on every ride, he couldn’t beat the stubborn world champ. John was lost in astonishment.
And do you remember last year? When Gabriel beat Kelly Slater who was in the form of his life, in the best waves surfed at a Teahupoo contest?
A little prediction. Gabriel will wash the year away with a win, maybe two (France, Portugal), finish top four and return, enthusiastic and fabulous, for title two in 2016.
In the meantime, Aritz Aranburu thrashed Mick Faning, Italo Ferriera, who could talk the hind-legs off his favourite dog in the post-heat interviews, found ramps and Filipe ended Brett Simpson’s fanciful dream of a ninth or better.
Full report here!
| Billabong Pro Tahiti Round 3 Results:Heat 1: Filipe Toledo (BRA) 16.97 def. Brett Simpson (USA) 12.50Heat 2: Kai Otton (AUS) 13.13 def. Bede Durbidge (AUS) 12.00
Heat 3: Owen Wright (AUS) 18.23 def. Dusty Payne (HAW) 15.70 Heat 4: Italo Ferreira (BRA) 16.10 def. Jadson Andre (BRA) 9.83 Heat 5: Gabriel Medina (HAW) 19.00 def. John John Florence (HAW) 18.84 Heat 6: Bruno Santos (BRA) 16.20 def. Adriano de Souza (BRA) 13.70 Heat 7: Aritz Aranburu (ESP) 15.17 def. Mick Fanning (AUS) 6.67 Heat 8: Wiggolly Dantas (BRA) 16.83 def. Matt Wilkinson (AUS) 8.66
Upcoming Billabong Pro Tahiti Round 3 Match-Ups: Heat 9: Josh Kerr (AUS) vs. Adrian Buchan (AUS) Heat 10: Kelly Slater (USA) vs. Sebastian Zietz (HAW) Heat 11: Jeremy Flores (FRA) vs. Joel Parkinson (AUS) Heat 12: Julian Wilson (AUS) vs. C.J. Hobgood (USA) |
The “heat of the year” has nothing on the heat of the century last year.
I think the WSL has shot itself in the foot. If it’s not 20ft mental slabs or people getting attacked by sharks I’m just not interested anymore. I do like the pan shots to the channel though. And Strider. Anything with Strider.
I agree but there’s one thing that still confuses me. How can you shoot yourself in the foot when your head is so far up your own ass you can kiss your cold dead heart? Explains why they can’t see for shit though.
Samsung should make that their brand personality.
John’s best wave was better than Gabby’s best wave, I think. But mine certainly is a worthless opinion, in the scheme of things.
I believe you are correct, but I am also in the “worthless opinion” category.
It isn’t, but Gabriel last wave was mental. He controlled the heat, and kicked John John’s ass. It took a long time for me to accept it, since I’m on John John’s side, but I finally got to a point where I stopped my 36th replay on the heat analyser and admitted Gabriel had been better. Sad day, sad day…
Man, you´re smart
Shut up you penis eater, it is still a sad day.
I concur, for what that’s worth. In my humble, also worthless opinion, Florence did not one single claim. That should automatically qualify for a win.
Guys, i think you´re needing a liitle bit of James B mojo around here
…hello, and welcome!
Love ya, Jamesy.