After a butt-aching 12 hour drive from Durban, we arrived in J-Bay just in time to catch the end of the media briefing last night at In-Food in Da Gama Road. While greeting folks we hadn’t seen in some time, they explained how Martin Potter had put Gabriel Medina on the spot by questioning him about Brazil’s performance in the World Cup against Germany the previous day. The current world number one’s head sank instantly into his palms, before re-emerging with cheeks flushed red as he chirped that he is hoping to do “much better”.
It is Gabriel’s first time in Jeffreys Bay, and if the Brazilian is hoping to hang on to his ratings lead, then he is definitely going to have to do much better than his compatriots at the Mineirão stadium back home.
According to those we’ve spoken to ahead of the event, the Brazilian has been looking good in the warm-up surfs ahead of the event. As have the rest of the Dream Tour competitors, who begin their battle for the 2014 J-Bay Open title this morning. The waves are good, we’ve seen a couple of 6-foot sets, and it’s the best day of the forecast so far. Round 1 will be getting underway shortly.
Watch the event LIVE on aspworldtour.com
Jordy warms-up this morning ahead of the event.
