Gabriel Medina just won the best surf contest ever (2014 Billabong Pro, Tahiti)
Photos by Domenic Mosqueira (@dmosqphoto)
Gabriel Medina just won the Billabong Pro, Tahiti over Kelly Slater. After beating Kolohe Andino in the quarters with a 17.27 heat total, and then taking down Bede Durbidge in the semis with 18.67 points, Gabs won over Kelly (who might've peaked in the semis) in clean, perfect Chopes with an 18.96 combined total. And that's how we end the best surf contest ever run.
"I don't really know what to say," said Gabs. "Kelly is a legend of surfing. When I fell off, I thought I had lost that heat. But I thank God. This is the best feeling ever. The waves were perfect and big. This feeling is amazing. I don't know how to describe it. I love surfing, I love what I'm doing right now.
"I want to thank ASP for putting this event on here, I love this wave now more. Thanks to the water patrol to keep us safe. I'm really happy to be part of this."
Also, if you didn't watch the Kelly Slater / John John Florence semi, then first, get yourself a check up from the neck up, and second, watch it below. It's the best heat ever surfed. Nobody was jealous of the judges through the business end, but it was never more painfully obvious than during this semifinal, with Kelly sitting on 19.77 and John sitting on 19.30 with 10 minutes remaining. It could've been a 20-20 heat.
Billabong Pro Tahiti Final Result:
1- Gabriel Medina (BRA) 18.96
2- Kelly Slater (USA)18.93
Billabong Pro Tahiti Semifinal Results:
SF 1: Gabriel Medina (BRA) 18.67 def. Bede Durbidge (AUS) 4.17
SF 2: Kelly Slater (USA) 19.77 def. John John Florence (HAW) 19.77
Billabong Pro Tahiti Quarterfinal Results:
QF 1: Bede Durbidge (AUS) 19.87 def. Adrian Buchan (AUS) 18.43
QF 2: Gabriel Medina (BRA) 17.27 def. Kolohe Andino (USA) 15.27
QF 3: John John Florence (HAW) 19.67 def. Dion Atkinson (AUS) 17.76
QF 4: Kelly Slater (USA) 19.80 def. Owen Wright (AUS) 16.10
Billabong Pro Tahiti Round 5 Results:
Heat 1: Bede Durbidge (AUS) 15.40 def. Michel Bourez (PYF) 14.66
Heat 2: Kolohe Andino (USA) 15.53 def. Tiago Pires (PRT) 6.16
Heat 3: Dion Atkinson (AUS) 19.33 def. Kai Otton (AUS) 14.77
Heat 4: Owen Wright (AUS) 19.87 def. Brett Simpson (USA) 12.83
Billabong Pro Tahiti Round 4 Results:
Heat 1: Adrian Buchan (AUS) 14.66, Michel Bourez (PYF) 13.73, Tiago Pires (PRT) 6.84
Heat 2: Gabriel Medina (BRA) 17.37, Kolohe Andino (USA) 15.57, Bede Durbidge (AUS) 9.00
Heat 3: John John Florence (HAW) 18.16, Kai Otton (AUS) 12.10, Brett Simpson (USA) 8.67
Heat 4: Kelly Slater (USA) 19.44, Owen Wright (AUS) 16.74, Dion Atkinson (AUS) 12.50
