Gabriel Medina Issues Chilling Prophecy to WSL Following Pro Surfing Judging Controversy

Lest we forget the Great Surf Ranch Pro Judging Controversy of 2023.

Gabriel Medina sure hasn’t. Nor should he, as he fired the first shot. Following a contentious loss to Ethan Ewing in the quarterfinals at Kelly Slater’s Surf Ranch, Gabs penned an open letter critiquing the WSL’s judging panel: “The surfing community,” he wrote, “especially in Brazil, is mesmerized with the poor clarity and inconsistence of judging for many years now, but lately it has been even more shocking.”

More Brazilian surfers came forward; death threats followed; former WSL CEO Erik Logan attempted damage control. And now, following Filipe Toledo’s (inevitable) win on Finals Day, order appeared to be restored. Brazilians win. Dominance continues. The judging controversy? Water under the bridge. Or so it seemed…

Celebrating that Brazilian dominance, the WSL posted the above, showing that seven of the last nine World Titles (on the men’s side) went to Brazilians. Since 2014, it’s been Gabs, Adriano De Souza, Toledo, and Italo Ferreira – minus two for John John Florence.

Remember the Brazilian Storm? According to Gabs, commenting on the post, it’s now the Brazilian…“climate change.”

Kinda chilling. A bit provocative. What does he mean? That, what was once a run-of-the-mill storm, is now permanent and irreversible, as in global warming?

Yikes.

Whatever the case, it was a bit of a witty retort from the 3x World Champion.

Support for Gabs poured in on the post.

“Well played,” wrote one commenter.

So long, Brazilian Storm. Hello, Brazilian...climate change.

Hmm...doesn't really roll off the tongue.

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