Gabriel Medina’s forehand has looked lethal at Raglan. Photo: Ed Sloane//WSL
Gabriel Medina is like an encyclopedia entry for WSL judging criteria. Difficulty, innovation, combinations, speed, power, flow — he does it all, whether the waves are small or big.
The three-time world champ hasn’t won a title since 2021, but he’s currently sitting atop the men’s tour rankings and looking like the surfer to beat. A new compilation of his free surfs at Raglan was released, providing further proof that he’s locked in this season after missing last year with a pectoral injury.
Josh Pomer, who has been in New Zealand posting videos of the Raglan surfs, said Medina has been landing his airs at a crazy rate of 80 percent.
Medina may not have a competitive history at Raglan, but New Zealand has played a pivotal role in his career. He won the 2010 ISA Juniors just up the coast at Piha Beach. From there, he went on to qualify for the Championship Tour in 2011, winning two events in his rookie season in France and San Francisco. And we all know how it went after that.
