A cruel day in Peniche…
Making predictions on pro surfing is probably one of the stupider things a human can do, no offence to our punting pals on here, but I did have a strong gut feeling Medina was going to stumble here in Portugal.
Which he did, in spectacular fashion, with eight minutes remaining in a heat with Caio Ibelli in a heat where he’d spent the previous twenty-seven minutes ruthlessly rag-dolling his compatriot in weak two-foot closeouts.
Unbelievably, he contested a dribbly little righthander, bumping shoulders with Ibelli, who gesticulated wildly in protest. WSL screen live on the broadcast showed Ibelli priority. Medina pointed to the beach, as if to suggest he had P.
Live screen immediately priority switched to Medina, suggesting a mistake. Within a minute a decision was reached and Medina had a priority interference awarded against him, meaning the loss of his second scoring wave.
As a sign of Medina’s dominance the penalty was not immediately fatal, with his single wave score of an 8.17 still besting Ibelli’s top two rides combined.
Ibelli got the score. Medina out.
The WSL, of course, maintained radio silence on the event. No official protest has been lodged by the Medina camp. I reached out to Johnny Cabianco who was on the beach, to get his read but received no reply to my query at time of writing*.
Whether a single infraction of the rules should be enough to immediately disqualify a surfer(in effect) seems a disproportionate punishment and produced a result that even Ibelli in the post-heat presser regarded as faintly ludicrous and unjust.
Early morning Florida time, and presuming Dirk Ziff was watching, must have made the billionaire delirious with joy. Not that it matter in the grand scheme. With a net worth of fourteen-billion plus it would take 710 years for a twenty-million a year loss to eat away the principal.
For now, pro surfing looks safe and stable.
Medina’s brain explosion, if that’s what it was, had been rendered moot anyhow in terms of the Title being decided at Pipeline by the performances of Filipe Toledo (scintillating) and Italo Ferriera (electric). The Brazilians, like Medina did, took it to the air, with very high make rates and did beg the question of whether a pro-surfer in 2019 could exist in the top 20 without a functioning aerial skill set.
I know, these are dry, arcane questions. More pertinent is why, considering the forecast and that multiple surfers including Kelly Slater have spoken publicly about clean barrelling surf on the leeward side of the peninsula the WSL have stood still as a statue and run the penultimate event of the year in mostly onshore closeouts.
With a ten-year deal between the WPS and WSL freshly inked there’s no mood for rebellion, apart from Slater’s passive-aggressive jibes but the fan base would like to know. Twelve months of monitoring and the Facebook Live audience peaked at fifteen-thousand during Teahupoo’s best day. Portugal has flatlined in the low two-thousands.
Is pro surfing the only sport on earth where a broadcast audience is not crucial to its fortunes? In this pivot away from sport to a media organisation it does seem that way.
Kolohe Andino picked a high volume retro shape off the racks, a board you and I could shred on, and dominated the opening ten minutes of his heat with Rodrigues. Hustling a priority situation to maintain a lead in the back end of the heat. Back looked good, diligent with warm-ups and warm downs etc etc.
Kelly, by contrast, rode a low volume, twitchy FRK which sunk on him on crucial closing manoeuvres during the opening stages of his heat with Igarashi. His strategy of paddling way the fuck down the beach and surfing a different peak would have paid ample dividend if he’d stuck the closers.
You could almost feel the mental cogs turning, hear the internal dialogue implanted by Snake in Kanoa’s mind as he diligently built a small house and then landscaped it with a few small airs. Scoreboard flattered Kelly, he never looked like threatening Igarashi’s lead.
In the presser, Kanoa almost tied himself in knots trying to be humble but ended up mildly condescending when, while reflecting in his 3-0 record against Kelly he mused, “Wish I could have surfed against him in his prime, probably before I was born”.
I know these back injuries are real. I also know the latest science in pain, especially as it relates to back injuries emphasises the role of the mind.
Stress, pressure, the activation and reinforcement of neural pathways, all crucial. In two-foot beachbreak Toledo was in a very happy place. Paradoxically, and this may apply to Andino too, the back injuries have taken the pressure off. Allowed an escape hatch, if you like, for the crushing pressure to dissipate through.
Pip made my back hurt just watching him throw flat spins into crunching landings. The pairing with Carmichael looked unfair, such was the speed, agility and repertoire advantage enjoyed by Toledo.
Pipeline, will be a different beast of course, if the swell comes to play. For now though a relaxed Pip said he felt “loose and confident” and showed his magnanimous side by declaring that he “was really happy to push the World Title to Hawaii and make things interesting for everyone”.
I think Medina might be a bit tortured by this European leg.
*Stop press. Cabianco was instructed by the Medina camp not to comment. He described the situation as tense and alluded to a future statement from the Medina crew. Watch this space.
Update: Gabriel addresses interference via IG.
“I would like to explain what happened on my battle. Caio and I caught the same wave and each went one way. My wave was shorter and his was longer. So much so that while I was back outside, he was still riding his wave. When I got out the bak, I was so sure the priority was mine that I didn’t look at the priority sign. To my surprise, when the next wave came, I ended up going because I was sure the priority was mine.
“I ended making an interference. When I got out of the water I went to talk to the judges. We looked at the open images of the two of us paddling back to the bottom with an open camera angle. It was very clear that I arrived well before. And even if I had gotten along with him and had a draw, the priority would be mine by the rule. Because in the wave we surfed together before, Caio had priority one. I hope the situation will be reevaluated because an error has occurred. I am still very hopeful that my heat will be reviewed.”
Men’s Quarterfinal Matchups:
QF 1: Jordy Smith (ZAF) vs. Kolohe Andino (USA)
QF 2: Filipe Toledo (BRA) vs. Kanoa Igarashi (JPN)
QF 3: Caio Ibelli (BRA) vs. Peterson Crisanto (BRA)
QF 4: Italo Ferreira (BRA) vs. Jack Freestone (AUS)
Men’s Round 4 Results:
HEAT 1: Jordy Smith (ZAF) 10.84 DEF. Griffin Colapinto (USA) 3.76
HEAT 2: Kolohe Andino (USA) 14.84 DEF. Michael Rodrigues (BRA) 11.57
HEAT 3: Filipe Toledo (BRA) 14.60 DEF. Wade Carmichael (AUS) 9.27
HEAT 4: Kanoa Igarashi (JPN) 10.53 DEF. Kelly Slater (USA) 9.10
HEAT 5: Caio Ibelli (BRA) 8.50 DEF. Gabriel Medina (BRA) 8.17
HEAT 6: Peterson Crisanto (BRA) 14.34 DEF. Jesse Mendes (BRA) 12.46
HEAT 7: Italo Ferreira (BRA) 13.83 DEF. Conner Coffin (USA) 10.83
HEAT 8: Jack Freestone (AUS) 13.83 DEF. Soli Bailey (AUS) 12.40
How many people have actually won a heat after a priority interference? Losing an entire score seems absurd. Medina was absolutely dominant in this heat. They should only halve somebodies lowest score so the heat isn’t essentially over when there is an interference. This heat was so lopsided it’s hard to believe such a petty mistake could take such a clear win away from a competitor.
Ziff wanted the title decided at pipe. Ziff gets the title decided at pipe.
Chas/Derek, how much do you think it would cost to get a BeachGrit logo onto Caio’s board, looks like there’s a bit of space up there.
“You don’t have to be a surfer to check priority”
metta
And risking what he’d earn from Rip and other sponsors for being champ?
He loves to drop in, hassle and be the ultimate pest in the surf. Please dont take it away from him.
What did he say?
I don’t really understand the fuss. not the first contentious call ever made, won’t be the last. if Ibelli played the game knowingly then well done. guy is fighting for his place on tour. and besides, do you really think gabby wouldn’t play the same card if it was available to him and he was backed into a corner? move along, nothing to see here.
Bullseye!!!
I hope you find peace
metta
Long Tom, I enjoy reading your analysis more than watching euro beach break…. good on you man. Very insightful.
Maybe we should celebrate the Ziff? With audience numbers as low as they appear (and I’m not watching anymore), if he didn’t buy the WSL it would be shuttered and gone. More humans watch little league baseball world series. That hole in the wood game you throw bean bags through… more compelling. That sport where you sweep the ice as the heavy thing slips along going somewhere and why? All more interesting than pro surfing.
Which begs the question, why not just cater pro surfing to the audience that surfs?
Curling. My family in Scotland are super into it.
surfers are cheap, they like things for free
I think Durk does want it to go to pipe…..
time to let go of the anger scott.
you have been going on for days over one comment I made.
you are obsessing over me as a distraction from something in your real life that is bothering you.
Wrong calls happen a lot. There’s been a few in this contest. Medina knows it as a couple have gone for and against him already in this last few years, both with scores and priority/interference. But not looking at the priority sign, and paddling for that crappy wave when you have Caio Ibelli almost comboed against you — Caio, not John, not Jules, not Yago, not Italo, not Filipe — is incomprehensible. Gabe screwed it
Perfeito Mendigo
Minha visão também!
Curioso veja:
A revista Hardcore, e outros blogs especializados em surfe aqui, Rio e Brasil, vários amigos excelentes surfistas, inclusive alguns pros, tocam no mesmo assunto, e ponto central da questão – o erro do Medina – que o Longtom e a maioria aqui no Beach Grit não abordam:
O erro primário aqui foi do Medina, o cara mais foda em estratégia, ao simplesmente forçar ao extremo a posse de uma onda medíocre!
Aliás não é a primeira vez que ele comete este erro, de carga sem excessiva, sem necessidade, disputando onda ruim, e em bateria que estava ganhando…
Dois pontos a serem considerados:
– Medina luta pelo título, seu terceiro, era favorito e, estava ganhando fácil a bateria.
– Caio luta para se manter no WSL, e fora a etapa de Portugal, conta apenas com etapa do Hawaii… e ainda quase sem patrocínios. Uma coisa leva a outra: má colocação, fora da WSL, com certeza zero de patrocinadores…
Medina simplesmente não precisava disputar aquela onda!
Todo o resto se resume as decisões pessoais de um e outro para pegarem aquela onda.
Foda é ver um cara ser linchado por brasileiros nas redes sociais, a maioria um bando de bundas moles que nem pegam onda, ou não entendem porra nenhuma do esporte, e ser acusado de filho da puta como se tivesse cometido um erro.
Se teve erro técnico que a WSL arque com a merda toda, e venha a público esclarecer.
Todo o resto é disputa de onda.
Exato! A galera linchando o Caio é uma das coisas mais deprimentes que eu já vi. É foda esse bonde de fã de surfe que não acompanha de verdade, que não pega onda… Fico me perguntando quando/como isso virou uma realidade desse tamanho. E o pior de tudo é que o Caio não absolutamente NADA de errado. É chocante…
E eu acho que a galera aqui no BG (tanto o Shearer quanto a turma do fórum) toma bastante cuidado pra não cair nesse anti-medinismo barato de alguns gringos por aí (a.k.a. Stab). O que é uma das coisas que me fazem gostar muito daqui hehe
Irmão é exatemente isto que você falou.
Muitos dos caras comentando no FB e Insta, são leigos ou nem pegam onda, aliás comoa massa que vaia praia na Barra ou em Itaúna, e que faz a festa noa vídeos…
Sem problema, faz parte isto…
Não faz parte é linchar o cara como vilão, filho da puta, e colocdizer queou o Medina na interferência de sacanagem e o fez perder… Aí é ser cretino demais.
Aqui, no Grit com certeza a galera tem noção, zoa e brinca muito, diferente da Stab.
Mas curiosamente vi uma turma, gente boa, aqui comprando a idéia de que o Caio prejudicou, que Medina foi um injustiçado na história…
Não é uma história de culpados e inocentes.
É uma história de um erro que começa na estratégia errada do Medina, e pode ter culminado no erro técnico (painel e julgamento)
Mas começa na desproporcional e sem noção pressão do Medina em uma onda medíocre, que não ia virar a bateria e não daria vantagem alguma ao Caio.
Um sem necessidade alguma de fazer aquilo, e o outro precisando de boa colocação no ranking.
Agora a atitude dos babacas de rede social, brasileiros na maioria, cara pqp, dá raiva!
É isso, erro do Medina. Se olhasse o painel, ia passar a bateria com ou sem erro de prioridade. Tanto faz, era dele já. Agora já foi. E pra essa marmelada toda, serve de consolo que Pipe vai ser épico. Torcer pra ter tanta onda como ano passado pelo menos…
Para de falar português aqui caralho!!
hahaha
Qual o problema? Se você me convencer a não responder o Paulo em português, eu paro.
Where? On GM’s instagram? Is so, I read it.
Mate did you not read the fascist’s manifesto that was put up yesterday about hollister ranch “elitism works”.
You can script this: https://www.instagram.com/p…
162000 likes and 7500 comments – is this the most popular gram post about a contest ever posted? Also, what word should we attach -gate to? MedinaGate? PriorityGate?
Prioritygate. Sounds like the airport boarding call for the Medina enterage as they leave Portugal.
Ratso-Gate. Not a judge. Not a god. Just an old salty bloke named Ian Ratso Buchanan who is personally responsible for this negligence of duty.
Gatey McGate-Face.
It has definitely left the gate open for the dogs on his heels . Woof .
Interesting theory! But I think Gabby is too much of an animal. Winning means more to him than money at this stage. Of that I have no doubts.
perhaps Neymar jr had a healthy bet on Ibelli.
Here’s the real kicker:
Had Medina not wasted time claiming his wave in the whitewater, would he have made it back out sooner and claimed priority without question? I guess if you live by the sword, you die by the sword.
If Finals Day is anything like Sunday was then Kolohe is in with a big chance .
That will be sad if the world title depends on who can do an air reverse in one foot closeouts. Something needs to change.
Yep . It is hard to believe that in the late 70s they moved the finals day of an event from Sydney to Melbourne ( 1000km ) and in 2019 they can’t move from one side of Peniche to the other side ( 10km ? ) especially when there was swell and wind was from the South .
Be nice to see more Cloudbreak and GLand and less of trying to spin straw into gold ?
I remember that. I think there was a pic of cheyne on the airplane? I guess it’s just been an unlucky year for waves. G land should help for next year.
normal year for waves, I think.
I guess it’s venues then. The stretch from chopes to pipe without much to speak of besides a few good hours in France feels like a long haul. IMHO
totally. I think it was your quote I used the other day about Carmichaels bag of cement?
Sorry for no attribution……I didn’t write (who it was) at the time and scrolling through the comments I couldn’t find it.
Just dawned on me that perhaps the WSL does not actually care about eyeballs on screens… Perhaps the Tour is a just a means to own a “sport”, a lifestyle and a world champ and to attempt to profitize all of the above in various ways. All the while virtue signaling about current hot button topics like equal pay in order to gain social points in their ivory towers
you got it
Very well could be, Dirk can definitely afford it. Maybe his wife Natasha also has a lot of free time on her hands and this helps keep her happy and occupied behind the scenes also. I think it was partly her idea from the beginning… whose pulling the strings……Dirk or Natasha……