Hi! I’m Gabriel Medina

Being Gabs Medina probably ain’t the simplest gig. Few understand the pressure of carrying a country’s expectations on your shoulders, or being unable to pick up a magazine that isn’t heralding you as the next big thing. Some facts we’ve mentioned before, but worth rehashing? Gabs has won finals with combined heat totals like 19.10 (Prime SuperSurf Internacional, Imbituba), 19.23 (six-star Sooruz Lacanau Pro) and 19.83 (the pro junior division of the same event). In the Sooruz junior event, kid won the semis with two perfect 10’s. In 2011 he’s also taken out the Six-Star San Miguel Pro, Zarautz and the Airwalk Pro Junior, Lacanau, where he won seven consecutive heats, bagged three 10-point rides, posted the top nine wave scores of the event and the top seven heat scores. More recently, he’s sitting on a spot in the quarters at the Quiksilver Pro, France, which should kick off in a coupla hours. Surfers, excitable bunch that we are, know how to hype a new jack just as well as the next sport, but sometimes we get carried away. So, watch this clip of him going loony and tell us: Is Gabriel Medina deserving of the hype?