GABRIEL MEDINA WINS HD WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS
Just because Gabriel Medina is ranked in the Top 16 on the WCT, doesn't mean he's not a junior. The 19 year old recently added another trophy to his already swelling mantle. Photo: Smorigo/ASP
CONDITIONS: Joaquina Beach in Florianopolis dished up precisely what Brazil is known for - consistent, contestable beachbreaks. Although there were a few laydays, onshore gusts and big-city distractions, it didn't deter the cream of the under-21 crop from rising to the surface, thus continuing a rich ASP tradition that includes previous winners like Andy Irons, Joel Parkinson, Jordy Smith and Sally Fitzgibbons.
"This feels really good," Medina said. "I'm so happy to win this event and I've never had a World Title in the juniors." Photo: Smorigo/ASP
HIGHLIGHTS:
If someone was actually able to upset Gabriel Medina in Brazil...now that would've made Sports Center. And while a few shots were fired at the lone WCTer, Medina quickly built his scoreline as he progress through the quarters and semis, eventually peaking over Morocco's Ramzi Boukhiam in the final.
Medina amassed the event's highest single-wave score (a 9.97) for a massive backside air followed with a flurry of turns. He backed it up with another excellent ride, securing a 18.26 heat total and Title.
"This feels really good," Medina said. "I'm so happy to win this event and I've never had a World Title in the juniors."
OUTSTANDING PERFORMERS:
Everyone loves an underdog. And the 16-year-old Hiroto Ohhara became the highest-placing Japanese surfer in the event's history before having his run snubbed out by Medina in the semis.
"I'm just stoked," Ohhara said. "It was good to get to surf with Gabriel and I'm happy. It's a big result and it's been a good event for me."
Meanwhile, on the girls' side, a last-minute alternate went the full distance to take an unheralded win over Hawaiian Tatiana Weston-Webb. Ella Williams' name now sits along side of Sally Fitzgibbons, Pauline Ado and Laura Enever in the list of World Junior Champions.
"This is like a dream," Williams said. "I've worked really hard to get here and for it to pay off was amazing. I was pretty lucky to get in to the competition and anything was just a bonus for me. This is really just amazing!"
QUOTE OF THE DAY:
"I was hoping Gabriel (Medina) wouldn't do his big airs and I knew I'd need two 9s to beat him." - Runner-up Ramzi Boukhiam
RESULTS:
MEN'S FINAL:?
1 - Gabriel Medina 18.26?
2 - Ramzi Boukhiam 11.60
MEN'S SEMIFINALS:?
SF 1: Ramzi Boukhiam 16.03 def. Matt Banting 12.33?
SF 2: Gabriel Medina 17.94 def. Hiroto Ohhara 10.54
MEN'S QUARTERFINALS:?
QF 1: Matt Banting 15.37 def. Michael Rodrigues 13.33?
QF 2: Ramzi Boukhiam 14.00 def. Oney Anwar 11.04?
QF 3: Gabriel Medina 16.64 def. Slade Prestwich 14.97?
QF 4: Hiroto Ohhara 10.17 def. Vehiatua Prunier 9.24
WOMEN'S FINAL:?
1 - Ella Williams 11.97?
2 - Tatiana Weston-Webb 9.23
WOMEN'S SEMIFINALS:?
SF 1: Tatiana Weston-Webb 15.34 def. Chelsea Tuach 8.33?
SF 2: Ella Williams 10.34 def. Johanne Defay 10.06
WOMEN'S QUARTERFINALS:?
QF 1: Tatiana Weston-Webb 14.66 def. Frankie Harrer 10.44?
QF 2: Chelsea Tuach 12.30 def. Bianca Buitendag 12.17?
QF 3: Ella Williams 9.67 def. Mahina Maeda 8.83?
QF 4: Johanne Defay 15.87 def. Stephanie Single 6.30
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