The King is back!
For all the asterisks surrounding Filipe Toledo’s world title, no John John, another failure at Teahupoo, Finals Day in two-foot waves thereby hobbling any chance Jackie Robinson would win, the most glaring might be the absence of three-time world champ Gabriel Medina.
Medina made a sensational return to the pro tour in 2022 following a six-month break for “emotional issues’ after splitting from wife Yasmin Brunet. He banked semi-final finishes at El Salvador and G-Land, but was forced to pull out of J-Bay with a tweaked knee.
Down but not out, as you’ll see.
Medina, who will be twenty-nine next month, proved his ability to turn a contest at a whim earlier today when he won the Corona Saquarema Pro, stealing a last-minute victory from the Moroccan surfer Ramzi Boukhiam.
The victory scuttled, at least for the time being, the Moroccan’s dream of qualifying for the Championship Tour.
Boukhiam, a tall splendid creature with dark and enormous eyes and flesh that ripples into bronze ridges, now has to turn up the volume at the Haleiwa event in a few weeks to make the cut.
“He’s (Boukhiam) such a great surfer,” Medina said after the final, sinking breathless into a divan, his body continuing to move in rhythm with his heart. “I hope he can make it to the tour, he deserves this. He’s one of the best to surf in a QS event and I can’t wait to see him on CT waves.”
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Epic waves, Epic Format The WSL is the best thing since vegimite mixed with beer.
I feel like I watched Ramzi in the original snaketales circa late 90’s, early 2000’s. Sure has been at it awhile. No sticker on the nose. Must have some North African desert money.
I’m not a fan of qualified CT surfers in the Challenger Series contests.
I think they like to do it as payback for the wildcard’s coming and beating them in CT events.
It’s a disgrace. WSL and it’s lust to breakthrough to the mainstream, with headline grabbing from the elite surfers like Medina generating more exposure for their ultimately flawed product. An unequal playing field for the players trying to make progress to the top table. WSL in sham event shocker. Challenge the CT Surfer Series.
last minute air again…the only way to finish since (with limited viewing on my part) the contest waves have been shit!
Unlimited shit from day one. The lesser guard were performing miracles as they hung five to survive. Medina was showboat bullying as he saw fit. Throughout.
care to expand on that? crowded? beach homes for sale? bikinis? food? Moroccan beach towels…lesser guards!
Totally agree – I got a huge serving from ADS for suggesting this earlier in the year!
Maaar-jeeena for the win!
“Hey Gabriel, have you ever been in a Moroccan prison?”
i’m confused what is this type of article doing on beachgrit
Two in a row !!
Longtom will be pleased.
Best surfer ever.
And handsome, his got to be the prettiest pro since Shaun Thompson!!
Doesn’t have pips weird forehead.
funny yeah?
https://scontent-sjc3-1.xx….
Get barrel.
might have been double-dipping, but the caption should read: “Beach goers are anxiously awaiting their lab results…for the last 2+ years!”