Gabriel Medina is the world’s most dangerous surfer according to Kelly Slater, who praised the performance of the young Brazilian on social media yesterday following his defeat in the final of the Billabong Pro Tahiti.
Gabriel Medina won the Billabong Pro Tahiti with a calculated performance.
Just a few days after revealing in an interview with Vice Sports that he has never felt the same passion for winning from anyone else since the passing of his great rival, Andy Irons, the 11-time world champ admitted that Gabriel is “more determined and hungry for the win than any other surfer.”
This is what @KellySlater had to say on Instagram:
On stage at the awards ceremony…Congrats are in order for Gabriel Medina and his performance this week. There are more conversations happening about this guy than anyone and for good reason. He’s the most dangerous guy in the world of surfing. Why?
Just this year he won at Snapper, a wave dominated by regular footers for over 10 years. He won in Fiji, one of the classic waves on tour. And now he wins the #BillabongProTahiti in giant surf, an event that he wasn’t considered to be a main threat by many people. That’s exactly why Medina has become so dangerous…he can and does win in waves/conditions where he doesn’t even have a lot of experience at yet and people don’t know what to expect.
He’s more determined and hungry for the win than any other surfer. He’s complete, combining airs, barrel riding, and carving. He can shoot whole video parts in single sessions. He has passed every test thrown his way. Even though I’m gonna do everything in my power to stop this guy this year, I’m a big fan of his surfing and he’s a really good guy.
The biggest obstacles he will face in his career will be staying motivated long-term and dealing with a fanatical, Brasilian fan base (#BrasilianSwarm?) that is resting the hopes of a country on his shoulders. I’m sure he’ll accept and handle that challenge like every other one thrown his way so far. Congratulations for your #Teahupoo win and hold on for a huge career ahead.
our boys are sooooo far behind the rest of the world……..