Amid death threats to Ethan Ewing from Brazilian surf fans, Gabriel Medina pens open letter to WSL complaining of “shocking” judging following loss at Surf Ranch Pro!

"Today was as ugly as in El Salvador last year, but this time it became clear not only for the Brazilian community but for the gringos."

The three-time world champ Gabriel Medina has posted an open letter to the WSL complaining of poor judging following his shock loss to Ethan Ewing in the quarter-finals of the Surf Ranch Pro, the defeat marking the first time in five events he’d failed to make the final. 

Dear WSL,

Please understand the importance of this discussion. 

Surfing has been my life and my love for this sport is unconditional. I have put all my heart into and and want to leave a beautiful legacy one day when I look back at it. 

However the surfing community, especially in Brazil, is mesmerized with the poor clarity and inconsistence of judging for many years now, but lately it has been even more shocking.

It is quite clear that judging is now rewarding very simple surfing, seamless transitions and have taken critical turns in critical sections off the criteria. This is very frustrating and is stagnating the sport. 

Fans and sponsor will not accept this to continue and will in a near future be draw away once all they want is equal and fair judging to the sport. 

Also, important to note that many coaches and managers have had the opportunity to speak to WSL after heats/events to ask about PROGRESSION and VARIETY in the criteria and the lack of reward for this space. The response given by them is always quite defensive by giving poor examples to illustrate THEIR point.

WSL needs urgently to clarify judging and apply equal and fair judging to save the progression of the sport.

Thanks,

Gabriel Medina and Brasil 

 

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A post shared by Gabriel Medina (@gabrielmedina)

And, just as Filipe Toledo’s daddy Ricky poured fuel on the fire last year when Griff beat Pip and Brazilian fans promised blood on the sand on Saquarema, Gabriel’s letter has excited another raft of sore losers. 

“Go away of this shit league. It’s over. They are way below your amazing talent. Commercial interests killed the sport.”

“Can’t take credit for this score, they can’t take it. They’re destroying the image of surfing. They have to understand that after the baby crawls, he starts walking and then runs and jumps.”

“Today was bizarre and stained the championship, lack of clarity in the criteria and abuse of subjectivity to interfere in the results and put A or B flag on the top group, no more! There’s no more, we Brazilians, we need to intelligently protest the organization in the stage that is coming here in Brazil, enough of this theft.”

“Today was as ugly as in El Salvador last year, but this time it became clear not only for the Brazilian community but for the gringos. Just watch some interviews with the gringos with surprise faces! Congratulations Gabriel, not only an idol but also a leader!

“After Medina was eliminated unscrupulously I turned off the TV my 6 year old asked why I wasn’t going to watch anymore. Did I say my eyes hurt. How do you explain to a child who believes in Santa Claus that there is no honesty in sports? And that the company that owns the rights to this is one of the dirtiest people around? Leave Brazil because my stomach could no longer take injustice and dishonesty. I unfollowed football and the olympics for the same reason! And sadly I’ve seen for many years that the corporation that controls Surf, WSL, is composed of individuals who carry the most rotten in society on them, are those that for profit are capable of any attitude! They manipulate results, impose rules and alterations down the throat.

“I’ve always been an athlete and often competed as an amateur in the street racing mode. I have never won anything, but I have the dignity to say that I have always been honest, not only in exams, but in life. This for me is the greatest legacy and example we can pass on. Many will say that the athlete who wins is not to blame, but the complicity is not to blame? Would you feel good about winning something you didn’t really win? What’s something like that worth? What is the merit ?The real winners are those who conquer the battles through their sweat!”

Thousands more everywhere, on the WSL’s account, Gabriel’s etc.

Personally, I thought Italo had more reason for tears. You?

And is it really a race thing? A classic case of American white supremacy? The judges as Daniel Penny, Gabriel as Jordan Neely?

I would think the WSL very excited to crown a BIPOC surfer as champ as evidenced, perhaps, by Brazilians taking six of the last nine men’s world championships.