Johnny Cabianca Talks Through Gabriel Medina’s Fiji Quiver

Originally posted on SURFER | By Ben Mondy | Last updated Aug 22, 2024 10:28 AM ET

1/16th of an inch. About 1.5 millimeters. Bigger than a pinhead, smaller than a grain of rice. About the size of a bee’s dick.

“It’s not much, but it makes a difference,” said Johnny Cabianca, of Cabianca Surfboards, on the Fijiian quiver he made for Gabriel Medina. “I made 10 boards ranging from 6’0 to 6’6”. All are the DFK model. They are 19” wide and the only change is that they are 2’ x 9/16” thick, up from the usual 2’ x 1/2” The idea was to add a bit more volume, by lowering the rails and creating more of a dome deck effect.”

After day 1 of the Fiji Corona Pro, this most subtle of design changes seems to be working. Medina, a 2x event winner, scored the opening day's highest heat total of 17.67 riding the 6’1” version. That featured a classic combo of pumping and threading long barrels and a few trademark grab rail carves.

Medina has two signature Cabianca models. The Medina model is the flatter of the two, with boxier rails, which he often uses in beachbreaks. The DFK model has a more curved rocker and is Gabe’s go-to model for reef breaks and barreling waves.

“Gabriel tested a batch of the new dimensions back at Brazil, and gave positive feedback, but with limited time and a lack of swell before the event, he said he’d feel them out in heats and any lay days,” said Cabianca.

After almost 15 years working together the trust between the pair is deep. While Johnny had made Gabriel his first ever board back in their home town of Maresias, their working relationship started when Gabe arrived in France for the first time in 2009 as a 14-year-old and ordered boards off Cabianca, who was working for Pukas in The Basque Country. That was the event where Medina announced himself to the world by winning the King of the Groms final with a pair of perfect tens. The pair have worked together ever since.

“Before Fiji, Gabe called me and said he wanted to use the graphics from some of the boards I had made for him at Pukas,” said Cabianca. “We called Pukas and they gave us the green light. It was cool to have the stripes and pyramids back. With the artwork on each event quiver, he likes to create something fresh.”

Cabianca said that he believed Medina is at a career apex in terms of his mental and physical preparation. As a result, he believes he’s never surfed better.

“While the competitive returns haven’t always been there, he’s totally focused on winning the Fiji event and making the WSL Finals. That’s his goal, that’s the dream,” finished Cabianca. “Let’s hope that 1/16 of an inch can help him get there.”

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

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