JEROME BROUILLET/AFP via Getty Images

Gabriel Medina’s Decade of Dominance in Tahiti

Originally posted on SURFER | By Zander Morton | Last updated Nov 21, 2024 4:30 PM ET

Gabriel Medina is the most dominant surfer of all time at Teahupo’o. Since his first WSL Championship Tour win at cartoonish, 8- to- 10 foot Chopes back in 2014, his worst finish in Tahiti is third, with another win (2018) and four additional finals. Not to mention his bronze at this year’s Olympics (and his now iconic kickout). He’s been the most consistent surfer on tour in Tahiti for the last decade, and it’s not even close.

While an argument could be made that Kelly Slater, John Florence and Jack Robinson are all just as talented, none of them have the same resume. Slater and Robinson have just one win each since 2014, while Florence has (surprisingly) yet to win in Tahiti.

In the edit above, the WSL curated seven minutes of Medina highlights since that first win over Kelly Slater in 2014. It includes all five of Medina’s perfect 10’s during that time frame, and at least five other rides that were just a fraction of a point from perfection.

The clip stretches 7-minutes and since it’s in sequential order, it’s rad to see Medina’s progression over the years. The clip at 6:15 — his near perfect 10 from this year against Jake Marshall — is so deep and intense it’s hard to imagine it could have been ridden any better, though we're sure Medina will try. Let’s just hope the WSL is blessed with another year of Teahupo'o perfection when the waiting period kicks off next August.

This article first appeared on SURFER and was syndicated with permission.

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