“Gabriel Medina is more popular than the League itself. That pisses them off.”
In a move that has shaken the sport of surfing to its already rickety foundations, alienating the important “brown-skinned” base, the World Surf League has denied Gabriel Medina’s request for a wildcard at the upcoming Teahupoo Pro.
Three-time world champ Gabriel Medina, who is thirty-one and whose surfing is a sort of live-action cartoon, has won the event twice, 2014 and 2018, finished second four times and scooped up the bronze at last year’s Olympics there.
Brazil media is reporting that Medina wanted to compete at Teahupoo but was told the two wildcards were already allocated to Tahitian gold medallist Kauai Vaast and the winner of the trials event.
Gabriel Medina would be eligible for an injury wildcard, a last-minute deal, which Medina subsequently refused.
Brazilian surfs were unimpressed by the snub, pointing out that if it was John John Florence or Kelly Slater doin’ the asking, chairs would be shuffled to get ‘em in.
“Medina is more popular than the League itself. That pisses them off. LOL.”
“The guy is a three-time champion and has no prestige in the League. That’s unreal. It borders on disrespect.”
“REGRETTABLE WSL!!!! IF IT WERE KELLY SLATER ASKING, THEY WOULD HAVE DONE EVERYTHING TO MAKE IT WORK!!!”
Gabriel Medina has long had a troubled relationship with his administrative masters. His criticism of the tour’s judging has been relentless with bombshell after bombshell, calls for revolutions etc.
You’ll remember three years ago he threw the tour into disarray when he withdrew from the Pipe Masters citing mental issues – not unlike his lil buddy Filipe Toledo a couple of years later, and, in January, when he was forced to pull out of this year’s tour after a titty injury.
You miss ol Gabriel Medina? Or you doin’ ok without the prince whose brown eyes are so quick to moisten?
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They owe him A wild card at chopes for the photo in and of itself
Brazilians have made it more pleasurable to surf a semi closed out beach break than a good point break. Pretty much any good point break you go to in the world these days is mobbed with agro brazzos
Tough titties.
Imagine if egghead asked for a spot at saquarema instead of the local qualifier. These wankers would lose their shit.
Two shark attacks in one day during the 2018 Margs event (Lefties and Cobblestones) didn’t help.
Ginger-bread man eyes!
Medina should without question get a WC. He’s one of the best out there. RELEASE THE EPSTEIN FILES!!
Vaast and the trials winner is a scary enough prospect for the top seeds without Medina entering the fray! My guess is Medina magnanimously didn’t want to mess with the title race without being in it.
I know my brain cells die by the millions every new day, but this clearly doesn’t add up – person with injured titty asks for a wildcard, is offered a titty injury wildcard, refuses, internet storms the tower.
That said, he is the best one out there ever, since those 20 score heats on the junior champs in france. Would always be a plus to this comp.
Maybe Felipe could give gabe his spot? At least waves will be caught in that heat if he does so
Give him his jersey and hope no one noticed?
But who will fly away so gracefully? I only watch the surfboarding for the spectacular jumps off the waves!
Its not just the jumps off the waves old Gil… its also the camera angle you need to capture it!
Can he enter the trials, and potentially win that ?
Worst case scenario, at least he’d get to surf TayAhhHooPawAw with only a few others…
Upvote for the correct pronunciation, B&B!
WWTCD
What would Tom Curren do?
Medina should just roll up anyway..on a big yacht and piss over the side and wave.
With a harem of women draining his love stick day and night.
Considering Vaast had his turn getting a gold medal served on a silver platter during the greatest priority blunder in surfing (Jack, we see you), why can’t all 3 of them surf a 3 man heat for wildcard allocation?
Not ok.
Yeah, couple of handsome young men with some celebrity. Must be tough
Vaast got shafted by Huey here at the Challenger Series at Merewether. The last 10-15 mins of the finals, the waves just disappeared, denying him any chance to get a score.
Which Tahitian local was Medina thinking should be pushed aside to make room? Brazilians have a bit of a respect problem.
denying Medina a Teehupoo wildcard is like denying Toledo a Trestles wildcard.
It’s just not cricket, mate
Fair suck of the sav, aye!
I hope they said, “No.” to ol Bobby swivel hips, too !
Must have coz I’m sure he would’ve been pushing to get in.
Ol Bobby and ol Gabby, what a sight for pained eyes.