Marvin Green

The Inertia Editorial Intern

Gabriel Medina Wins Nike Lowers Pro

Sunday, May 6th, 2012
Gabriel Medina won the 2012 Nike Lowers Pro. Photo: ASP/Hilleman

Gabriel Medina won the 2012 Nike Lowers Pro. Photo: ASP/Hilleman

One thing is for sure: Gabriel Medina absolutely dominated the 2012 Nike Lowers Pro. He put on an unparalleled display of high performance surfing that left all others in the dust.

Early in the week, Taylor Knox’s power surfing ruled Lowers, which was a surprise considering the typical display of aerial maneuvers. “I just go out there and stick to my own game plan,” said Knox. “It’s not like I’m going to pretend I’m going to out-air John John.”

But it was new-age, high-performance surfing that came out on top in the end –with Dane Reynolds and Gabriel Medina (Medina especially) leading the charge. Gabriel Medina dominated Ace Buchan in the semi final, opening the heat with a perfect 10 point ride and sealing the deal with a 9.8 only 11 minutes into the heat. Buchan was plagued with long lulls and couldn’t put together a ride to combat the young Brazilians early scores. It was rough to watch, and even the announcer on the beach apologized to Buchan as he rode in from the heat.

Medina’s road to the final heat was well paved, but it was lesser-known WQS veteran Glen Hall who came up against the young Brazilian in the final. Hall, 30 now has the highest finish for an Irish surfer in ASP history at second place. “This is a great result for sure,” Hall said. “And I am in a good position to try and qualify now. I’m going to do all of the PRIMES and see how we go.”

“This is a very special win and it has been a long week,” Medina said, “I love Trestles so much, it’s just such a good wave and it’s one of my favorites, I just don’t even have words to explain how I’m feeling right now. I’m stoked.”

  • bob

    Glenn  Hall was raised in Oz  former narrabeen pro junior champ (which is now junior worlds)

  • brazzo4sure.

    Any Dane lovers or widows here? Comboed twice on his home turf. LoL.

    • wildrnes

      home turf is ventura about 2-3 hours north of trestles. don’t get too cocky, “brazzo”.

      • Eric

         Yah, minor detail.  Point is, he got smoked.  2x. 

        Which sucks for this Dane lover. 

        • wildrnes

          doesn’t suck for me. i just get sick of media hype for a second coming in professional surfing.
          it’s just a beachbreak win. like they say ” small wave wonder, big wave blunder” with exception to raoini and burle. i echo bum acid’s sentiment of brazzo’s “massive inferiority complex”.
          the wt is long with many reefs ahead. will medina thrive or pull a neco?

          yeah, the real story was occy. congrats occy!

  • bert

    Glenn Hall is a great journeyman and a really good surfer, but I think he was really lucky on this one.
    He was lucky to face Flores in the quarters! First because the judges robbed the frenchman (the only barrel of the contest, followed by nice turns, and the kid get a 6, when Hall had a 6.5 on a normal wave), and second because Flores became angry, lost his temper and made the final mistake. Then, Hall was really lucky to beat JJ Florence, in a no wave heat, and it was close…
    But luck is part of the game and for sure Glenn Hall could show me numerous occasion when he was unlucky too! Congrats to him, though…

    But I would have prefer  final between Medina and Brett Simpson (the only guy able to beat him in this comp), or Tanner G (or his brother), or of course JJ Florence. And for sure with more waves!

    Dane Reynolds wasn’t in a good day for sure in his quarter against Medina, but this heat showed the difference between a hungry kid fighting for his career and for the win, and the Reynolds’ approach of pro surfing…I wouldn’t mocked Reynolds, first because in a good day, he could have won easily, and second because Reynolds is a sportsman, but the press, sponsors and extreme fans alike were teached a lesson on this one!

    Lowers Trestles showed once again how good a contest site it could be. It’s for sure one of the best location for a competition, and each year brings at least two or three days of really great pro surfing. Can’t wait for the CT later in the year!

    • Kyle

      i think it would be interesting if dane had that real mental edge that is required for competitive applications. Dane is perhaps the best surfer in the world, until someone starts taking scores – i think a guy that gets that good – is clearly competitive, but he has always underperformed on the bigger stage. 
      I think Danes attitude towards competitive surfing probably stems from that hint of narcasist-masochistic attitude of alot of ‘hipster’ guys. hes doesnt really commit to a comp because he couldnt bare the thought of actually losing, so he fucks around getting 10′s + 3′s. If he had medinas head, hed be getting 10′s + 10′s, but he doesnt – so he pretends he doesnt care but really – he cant take it. 

  • Bum Acid

    ha Brazzo4sure,

    why do Brazilians on surf sites always post comments with a massive inferiority complex.
    We don’t care if your country is ultra-competitive and winning is your ‘way of life’.

    Go back to football.

    Funny how Dane usually throws down the best surfing in the comp but kinda gets wigged out in tough heats.

    coming up against a 9 point ride inside of five minutes must be soul-crushing.

    To be honest, ASP judges are overscoring many waves too early and leave nowhere to go. Especially with Medina and Slater.

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