Is Gabby Giving The 2022 CT A Miss?

Three-time World Champion, Gabriel Medina might be giving the 2022 season a miss. In an exclusive interview with Lance, Gabriel expressed uncertainty about doing next year’s CT.

“I need to stop thinking about competition for a while, because everything I do today, food, routine… It’s all focused on competition. I never missed a step. It’s been hard to do this for years. I think the time has come when I need to take a break,” Medina said.

Medina started his CT career in 2011, at 17 years old. In 2021, he completed a decade on the tour – with exactly 100 events surfed in since then. Medina has made the podium 17 times and has won three world titles in 2014, 2018, and 2021. 

“This year was difficult, I amended one trip in another, I almost didn’t return home. It’s been ten years that I have to be at the same level, training, making choices to perform better… It’s very intense, it demands a lot. I want to give myself a break, but it’s something I’ll still stop to think about, leaving it day after day… Let’s see how it goes.”

In the past, some CT surfers have already opted for a ‘gap year’. The most recent of them being Mick Fanning, who missed 2 events in 2016 following the J-Bay shark incident and passing of his brother, and returned to the CT full-time in 2017. This year Medina has made several lifestyle adjustments, including working with coach Andy King and getting married to actress and model, Yasmin Brunet.

The WSL will confirm their 2022 wildcards in the next few days, however, they have said that Gabby will be awarded a wildcard in 2023 if he chooses to skip next season.

Stay tuned.