Medina can win first Brazilian World Surfing Title in Portugal

 
Photo: Corey Wilson

Gabriel Medina (BRA), 20, can clinch Brazil’s first ever World Surfing Title with a victory at the Moche Rip Curl Pro Portugal, Stop 10 on the ASP Samsung Galaxy World Championship Tour, next week. The event runs from October 12 to 23 at Supertubos Beach in Peniche.

Medina has had an incredible season so far, claiming three event victories on the 2014 ASP World Championship Tour. His wins include the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast, the Fiji Pro and the Billabong Pro Tahiti. Medina has proven himself in all conditions this season from the playful walls of Queensland’s Superbank, to the life-on-the-line barrels of the infamous Teahupo’o in Tahiti.

Medina has led the ratings all year and is currently ahead by 6,500 points to the next closest competitor, 11x ASP World Champion Kelly Slater (USA). If Medina is to clinch the title in Portugal, he will become Brazil’s first ever World Surfing Champion and surfing’s youngest World Champion since Slater himself.

On paper there are currently six World Title challengers to Medina: Kelly Slater (USA), Mick Fanning (AUS), Joel Parkinson (AUS), John John Florence (HAW), Taj Burrow (AUS) and Michel Bourez (PYF).

The likelihood of Taj Burrow and Michel Bourez winning is extremely low, as they would have to win both remaining World Tour events, and hope that Medina doesn’t pass 13th place in either event.

For the other 4 contenders: Slater, Fanning, Parkinson and Florence here are the scenarios:

– If Medina finishes 25th or 13th in Portugal:
Parkinson and Florence will need a 2nd place, Fanning a 5th, and Slater a 25th to send the title race to Hawaii’s Pipeline on December 8.

– If Medina finishes 9th place:
Parkinson & Florence will need a 1st place, Fanning a 2nd, Slater a 3rd place in Portugal to force it to Pipeline.

– If Medina finishes 5th place:
Parkinson & Florence will be out of the race; Fanning & Slater will need a 1st place in Portugal to force it to Pipeline.

– If Medina finishes 3rd place:
Fanning & Slater will need a 1st place in Portugal to force it to Pipeline.

– If Medina finishes 2nd place:
Fanning will be out of the race, and Slater will need a 1st place in Portugal to force it to Pipeline.

– If Medina finishes 1st place:
He will clinch the World Title in Portugal no matter what the other contenders do.

Follow all the action of the Moche Rip Curl Pro at Aspworldtour.com