Real talk at WSL #8 and tears as John John sinks like stone…
One of the great pleasures in watching the reigning world champ is in the admiration of his stance. Strength, brute power, muscle, even the beauty of the brute body. It all comes from the steel in Gabriel’s stance.
Like an 18th century Brazilian slaver squaring up to, let’s say, an African loosed from his chains (lest we forget the Brazilian’s zeal for enslaving the African, four million all up compared to the USA’s relatively puny 388,000) Gabriel looks as if nothing could sweep him off his feet. Not wind, nor chop nor any uncooperative lip.
The commentator Chris Cote noticed and admitted to being thrilled by “Gabriel’s bow-legged approach.”
“He’s no Joel Parkinson,” said Ross Williams, the WSL’s #1 commentator, praising Gabriel’s decision to choose function over form.
Gabriel’s approach was vindicated when he greased a perfect four-foot high rote at heat’s conclusion, easily winning his round two heat against tour sub Tomas Hermes.
Meanwhile, the real Joel Parkinson progressively modified the shapes of the set waves he caught and disintegrated the slowly retiring CJ Hobgood.
Wiggolly Dantas looked fabulous, achieving power with a soulful volatility.
Miguel? Jadson? Each successive sortie was more expansive than the last!
And little Glenn Hall! Look! He pulled the rug straight from under John John Florence. What raw guts he has.
(Watch the heat just by clicking here)
Hurley Pro Round 2 Results:
Heat 1: Filipe Toledo (BRA) 16.50 def. Ian Crane (USA) 16.43
Heat 2: Josh Kerr (AUS) 13.50 def. Hiroto Ohhara (JPN) 12.77
Heat 3: Gabriel Medina (BRA) 17.50 def. Tomas Hermes (BRA) 9.60
Heat 4: Nat Young (USA) 16.60 def. Artiz Aranburu (ESP) 13.66
Heat 5: Wiggolly Dantas (BRA) 16.73 def. Brett Simpson (USA) 12.60
Heat 6: Bede Durbidge (AUS) 13.27 def. Dusty Payne (HAW) 10.00
Heat 7: Glenn Hall (IRL) 13.64 def. John John Florence (HAW) 9.90
Heat 8: Matt Wilkinson (AUS) 15.60 def. Ricardo Christie (NZL) 14.83
Heat 9: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 18.74 def. C.J. Hobgood (USA) 13.73
Heat 10: Miguel Pupo (BRA) 17.20 def. Jadson Andre (BRA) 14.43
Upcoming Hurley Pro Round 2 Match-Ups:
Heat 11: Sebastian Zietz (HAW) vs. Michel Bourez (PYF)
Heat 12: Keanu Asing (HAW) vs. Adam Melling (AUS)