Was this Gabriel Medina air the best ever in competition?

Gab’s pop and shake in France a few days back was one of the most sound airs to ever be done in competition, or ever. “It had all of us making comparisons” said Ronnie Blakey, “so we started thinking about the best airs that we’ve seen.” Every now and again something gets stuck in an event that leaves us speechless. We sit, watch, rewind and rewind in an attempt to make sense of it. And come to conclusions of the laws of physics being redefined, humans’ presumed capabilities begin to alter and a new expectation is born.

So the boys over at the WSL decided to compare Gabs’ air to some of the best we’ve seen in the existence of competition thus far. “Not only did he push the best air of the year,” said Ross Williams, “but he also backed it up with big carves and snaps.” We recall John John’s oop in Bali, Kelly’s full rote in New York, Julian’s oop at J-bay and Filipe’s cranker at last year at lowers. “There’s a difference between the powerful airs that Gabs throws to the pop that Filipe has,” Pete Mel said. “Filipe has the best pop on tour.”

Medina’s always had success in France. In the final of the King of the Groms a few years back Gabs put up two absolutely mental combos for two tens. So much so that the head judge during at the time, Mr Perry Hatchet said they would have been tens on the CT. Also it’s worth mentioning two years later Gabs won his first CT even in France in the dying seconds of the final vs an in form Jules. It was his second event ever on tour. One things for certain, the young Brazilian who blocked us on Insta sure can work that sled of his.