World champ’s elaborate pageantry; title contenders rise to surface…
Far from being dead, and as predicted on these pages, Gabriel Medina has become a modern Lazarus of Bethany.
Want to see what Gabriel can throw into the wind when he feels the judges want elaborate pageantry and not six window-wiper re-entries at three-foot Hossegor? A backside roter so complete even his competitor Owen Wright was compelled to applaud?
Let’s examine.
Now let’s pause amid the drama and ask Gabriel to describe? “I felt really high! This might have been the biggest air I’ve ever done, ” he says.
Julian Wilson cried out for attention, aware that the law of the jungle is all that applies in competition. Kolohe Andino, Jadson Andre, mauled.
Defending Quiksilver Pro France champ Pro John John swung into the quarter finals with this.
And Mick Fanning? Of course he’s there.
QUIKSILVER PRO FRANCE QUARTERFINAL MATCH-UPS:
QF 1: Julian Wilson (AUS) vs. Italo Ferreira (BRA)
QF 2: Mick Fanning (AUS) vs. Bede Durbidge (AUS)
QF 3: Adriano De Souza (BRA) vs. Owen Wright (AUS)
QF 4: Gabriel Medina (BRA) vs. John John Florence (HAW)
QUIKSILVER PRO FRANCE ROUND 5 RESULTS:
Heat 1: Italo Ferreira (BRA) 16.23 def. Jadson Andre (BRA) 15.07
Heat 2: Bede Durbidge (AUS) 18.30 def. Kolohe Andino (USA) 10.20
Heat 3: Owen Wright (AUS) 18.50 def. Jeremy Flores (FRA) 16.17
Heat 4: John John Florence (HAW) 16.80 def. Matt Wilkinson (AUS) 14.87
QUIKSILVER PRO FRANCE ROUND 4 RESULTS:
Heat 1: Julian Wilson (AUS) 17.37, Jadson Andre (BRA) 12.93, Kolohe Andino (USA) 10.47
Heat 2: Mick Fanning (AUS) 16.67, Bede Durbidge (AUS) 15.43, Italo Ferreira (BRA) 13.73
Heat 3: Adriano De Souza (BRA) 18.50, Jeremy Flores (FRA) 14.00, John John Florence (HAW) 13.37
Heat 4: Gabriel Medina (BRA) 19.83, Matt Wilkinson (AUS) 16.00, Owen Wright (AUS) 15.56
People are so naive. They think that a international judging panel with 5 experienced surfers (all the WSL judges that I personally know are ex competitors) that are accustomed to watch the top 34 athletes of our sport all year round are going to be influenced by some fist pump.
JJF did Claim and who would not claim after a huge air! https://www.youtube.com/wat…
what a dick.
Surfers get a bad rap and are not taken seriously in most cultures.
The WSL is underfunded and continues to struggle to gain both recognition and viewership.
When competitors act unprofessional, it worsens that stigma.
Yeah! I never saw a golfer get excited for a hole in one or a tennis player claims an amazing play. WTF are talking about?
Maybe you have literacy issues, but my qualms about claiming are not in reference to Medina’s wave.
I am talking about all the mediocre waves that get claimed.
The WSL competitors are turning into used car salesmen, trying to turn shit into diamonds, instead of letting their surfing do the talking for them.
After watching that air it’s clear that guys who can’t do something similar should not even be considered as champ. Mick and ADS could never, and I mean NEVER, do that. Gabs, on the other hand, can win in big barrels, in the air or now with big rail turns.
Accordingly, I’m proposing a new format for the tour: There will be 3 types of events – barrels, rails and airs. Each contest is classified as one of these. At the end of the year, each surfer takes two results from each, and the rest are done away with.
In addition, at each event, scoring will match the classification. At Pipe, barrels score. At rails, turns on on tap. At beaches, every wave MUST have an air of some sort to score. This last requirement will necessarily make some guys step up or step out.
Obviously, there will be some leeway in judging based on wave conditions. Day 1 of this comp was a barrel day, no question. Super bank can be barrels or airs depending on size. You get the gist.
I’m in! We’re all sick and tired of seeing the best surfers being pulled down in the WCT by the judges.
sorry clowns, but the claim is part of surfing now – it’s not going away. That said, if all you can hate on is a guy’s claim, he’s surfing really, really well.
It always been. Remember when the Pipe Master was open to the hawaiians? It was a claim fest.
Now THAT was progressive. The claim was trash, but I’ll give him an excitement pass.
Safety comment
Nah, I’m just risk averse. Wouldn’t want to put strong opinions out there via the internet.
Vote 1# on the macarena
No mention of the repeat death match of quarterfinal #4?
JJF looks totally unconvincing. He’s changed his stance, changed his boards? His surfing looks weirder than hell.
I don’t think the claim was needed, it would have been way cooler to not claim at all and just kick out
dude.. you do realize that when you land something of that magnitude the claim just happens naturally (ex: JJ’s oop at Keramas), and regardless of whether or not it was premeditated, it was wholly justified. It just shits me that if JJ or Julian claimed this no one would give a fuck, but because it’s Gabby everyone thinks it’s their chance to be the white knight of surf chivalry and call him out.
Absolutely on point. That Guy is just another biased Guy.
Really? Biased? This is a very rich statement coming from yourself.
That’s a bit like some pot calling some synthetic cannabis mild-altering, Jim.
But let’s just be real honest for a moment. Spontaneous celebration is totally justified but the coolest cool thing to do is nothing. Kurt Cobain taught us that. Stomp a giant air, bottle them emotions and shoe gaze. Cool!
Idk man, what’s wrong with emotion? I think caring is cool. Andy irons cared a lot and we praise him for that. I think it’s bullshit that “not giving a fuck” about things is considered cool. These surfers live for shit, they train day in and day out. Even Owen was clapping for gabs. It was rad.
And Kurt cobain was a scrub, I’m not really sure how he’s come to be so glorified. I guess an early death can really create a legacy
fuck me……
I’m confused about how no one else can see how lame it is to be so self-conscious that you suppress a reaction when you’re psyched out of your mind. I was impressed by these guys when I was 8 but then I developed even the most basic level of intelligence and realised they were trying too hard. Any cool they had go cancelled out. Also, Kurt Cobain blew his brains out because he was upset that tabloids were critical of him being a drug addict father. Also lame.
You, as well as I, have little to no idea why Kurt killed himself, so think before you pass judgement.
This is why everyone rides Dane’s nuts so hard.
Guilty as charged.
I think your basing that on your perception Chas. I’m with you but there’s people out there that don’t understand understatement or subtly. That doesn’t mean they’re wrong just…. tomato tomato. Nah meen?
It is my personal view that with out a claim it would have looked way better. I never said anything about calling him out. Both Julian and JJF didn’t claim their huge airs yes this is true, but I didn’t speak ill of lil Gabby, so get off that high horse, the weather is nice down here
“Both Julian and JJF didn’t claim their huge airs yes this is true”. So much for accuracy and truth
Thank you, yes, he did claim it then in the post heat interview said he felt like an idiot and apologized. So much of your knowledge
I guess I have to take your word on that. No thanks.
Anyway, the lame thing to do is to apolgize afterwards. It is a statement that your coolness is unatural.
“When you get in the endzone, act like you have been there before.”
-Bear Bryant.
The WSL should start implementing fines on claims so that these professionals actually start acting professional.
Yeah let’s all just become robots
You and I, and the “all” you are referring to have nothing to do with this.
Professionals are paid to transcend normalcy.
There is such a thing as composure, and claiming every wave like it has never been done before is disgraceful.
What is far more impressive and intimidating is someone kicking out and acting like it is just another day at the office, because that is exactly what it is for them.
You want to start fining people for being excited. Just take a second and think about that. And they’re not claiming every wave, every good wave maybe, but I don’t get why it’s so offensive to people. These guys put their hearts and souls into competitive surfing so I’m sure it feels awesome to smash a wave in such a high pressure situation. Come to think of it, I can’t recall a single sport where players don’t have positive outward reactions after a good shot/play/maneuver. Why are you putting surfers on some sort of pedestal? Because your heros from the 80s didn’t claim? Who the fuck cares? Next time you land a big promotion I bet you’ll walk around like you’ve got a 12 inch dick too.
“…every good wave…?”
Try again.
Any time someone needs a score, no matter the quality of the ride, it gets claimed.
Look at the NFL: players get penalized and sometimes fined for excessive gloating.
The one difference there is that football is objective (a score is a score) whereas surfing is not.
I am all for passion.
But double fist-pumps and belligerent screams do nothing but hold back an already suppressed sport.
What a giant pile of crap! All this bullshit about claims is just lame. Enforce coolness? Yes, professionals are paid to transcend normalcy, and this air is the fucking clear statement that normalcy was surpassed. Transcend normalcy is not the same to suppress emotions.
It’s funny this… Gabs competes like a pro every heat. He scratches and hassles and paddle-battles and everyone HATES it. And now we want him to be a pro and not claim? Silly white guys.
When I say I want claims to go away, I am not speaking just about Gabs.
He surfs very smart heats, but that has nothing to do with claiming.
he would have scored a 10.3 then.
I think Medina enjoys claiming more than he enjoys surfing, as in the only reason he surfs is so he can claim.
jesus…let me boy claim, it was a sick fucking wave during a heat. If any wave deserved a claim it was this one, save the criticism when dudes are claiming 6s or 7s, which I then think is pathetic