Stab Magazine | The Surfboard That Broke Gabriel Medina's Heart

Live Now — Episode 2 Of Surf100 Challenge Series Presented By Pacifico

701 Views

The Surfboard That Broke Gabriel Medina’s Heart

Julian Wilson’s Chopes breadwinner. 

hardware // Aug 20, 2017
Words by Stab
Reading Time: 2 minutes

Nobody does barefoot sprints across the reef at Teahupoo quite like Julian Wilson. Juicing every last hundredth of a point out of his rides during the Billabong Pro Tahiti, Jules was all about grinding his fins and dry-docking his board if it meant making a heat. The effort paid off with his third tour victory—and his third finals win over Gabs Medina. 

From the take-off to the lagoon, Jules’ equipment was dialled this year. While a lot of surfers were experimenting with something a little different—John John on a 6’0” Pyzel-shaped Ghost model with a bit of extra volume under the chest, Wilko on a 6’2” to help him “get into some nugs”- Julian was riding a comp-tested design by JS. It was a round pin version of the Forget Me Not model, the exact dimensions were 6’1/2″  x 18 3/4” x 2 7/16” x 28.6L. 

“Jules usually gets his good-wave boards as quad or thruster only, and after mostly opting for the quad in Fiji, he went with the thruster in Tahiti to help him slow down in the barrel more,” says Sam Zubevich at JS Industries. “He’s been doing a lot of work on that board.”

During the first two marathon days of the contest Jules went with the thruster, but with conditions cleaning up and kind of pulsing on the morning of the final, he picked up a quad.

“That was the first heat I rode a quad in,” he said after round four. “I think it really, really helped me on that first long wave I had. I don’t think I would have made it if I was on my thruster. The conditions were perfect for that kind of board.”

Sliding into fifth on the leader board with a serious shot of jumping into the world title conversation if he can post a result at the Hurley Pro, our guess is that Jules will be opening up the tail a bit and sticking to the thruster at Lowers. It’s a spot he’s long overdue for a victory at. It’s also a spot he could meet Gabs, again, in the final at. 

“My gear has been feeling great all year, and especially at a wave like Chopes, where you’re putting extra force on your board and fins and you really need to feel like you’re in total control,” added Jules after the comp. “It’s all those little things that add up and give you confidence.”

Comments

Comments are a Stab Premium feature. Gotta join to talk shop.

Already a member? Sign In

Want to join? Sign Up

Advertisement

Most Recent

Surfing’s 2025 Q2 Report

An assessment of surfing's vital signs throughout the second quarter of 2025.

Jul 2, 2025

What Actually Happened to Occy’s Mad Max Plunger Pool In Yeppoon?

Surf Lakes’ brass talks: internet hecklers, the unplugging of the plunger, and the Tom Curren…

Jul 2, 2025

Poor Goofy Foots 

Data shows that the world is stacked against goofs — they even make 15% less money than…

Jul 1, 2025

Britain’s First Wavepool Has Closed — What Really Happened?

Bankruptcy, social media hackings, debts unpaid — and yet, reopening looms.

Jul 1, 2025

Watch: Was Matt Meola’s Air Actually Better Than Hughie’s?

Watch the full Swatch Nines highlight reel and decide.

Jun 30, 2025

Houshmand Bludgeons Field To Win Second CT — Molly Picklum Tastes Blood, Snatches World #1 In Brazil

You can't argue with big surfing — that's Saquarema wrapped.

Jun 29, 2025

37 Years Old And World #1 — What’s Changed For Jordy Smith?

On rediscovering decades old surfboard templates, having a personality on the CT, and why this…

Jun 27, 2025

Tom Lowe Stars in ‘Let Me Live’

The wild, improbable ascent of Britain’s best big-wave surfer.

Jun 27, 2025

Saq Wrap: Italo Celebrates Mid-Heat, Griff Drops A Freestyle, Jordy + Yago Continue BBQing 20-YOs

Top seeds sow ruin, Final 5 starts to crystallize.

Jun 27, 2025

Surf100 Challenge Series Presented By Pacifico: Episode 2

Our seven surviving surfers confront an oddly large California beach break.

Jun 26, 2025

SEOTY: The ‘Once-In-A-Decade’ Caribbean Swell That Kelly Slater Passed On

Michael Dunphy stars in Jimmicane's 'Blue Veil'

Jun 25, 2025

Who Owns Bingin? Legal Fight To Stop Demolition Begins

Eviction notices served for all businesses built on state land.

Jun 25, 2025

Tony Hawk Just Named Hughie Vaughan’s Internet-Breaking Air Because… No One Else Can

89% of our IG poll respondents claimed the 'stale fish flipper' was the best air…

Jun 25, 2025

German Surfers: AN INVESTIGATION

Truth is the light by which the world can see. 

Jun 24, 2025

“I Lost Everything I’ve Ever Owned, But This Board Came Back”

One month after the LA wildfires, a surfboard washed ashore.

Jun 24, 2025

Shock Therapy: World 1 & 2 Eliminated Early In Saquarema

Gabriela Bryan and Caity Simmers fall victim on Day 1 of the Vivo Rio Pro.

Jun 22, 2025

German University Surf Contest Derails After Local Pushes Competitor Off Wave

The story behind the shove, and why wave-rental politics turned physical in Seignosse.

Jun 22, 2025

An Accidental 90-Minute Chat With Caity Simmers

A Stab Interview on life, individuality, and chimpanzee research initiatives.

Jun 21, 2025
Advertisement