Gabriel Medina Is Not Happy With the WSL’s Judging

Gabriel Medina is not happy with the WSL right now.

First, he lost to Ethan Ewing in the quarterfinals at The Surf Ranch, in a split decision that resulted in a tie on paper and Ewing winning on account of his high single wave. Second, he watched his fellow countryman Ferreira come up just short in the final against Griffin Colapinto.

While both results can be argued either way, Medina feels strongly that both himself and Ferreira were outright wronged, and so he took to Instagram to let the WSL know exactly how he feels.

“Surfing has been my life and my love for this sport is unconditional. I have put all my heart into and and want to leave a beautiful legacy one day when I look back at it.

However the surfing community, 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.

It is quite clear that judging is now rewarding very simple surfing, seamless transitions and have taken critical turns in critical sections off the criteria. This is very frustrating and is stagnating the sport.

Fans and sponsors will not accept this to continue and will in a near future be drawn away once all they want is equal and fair judging to the sport.

Also, important to note that many coaches and managers have had the opportunity to speak to WSL after heats/events to ask about PROGRESSION and VARIETY in the criteria and the lack of reward for this space. The response given by them is always quite defensive by giving poor examples to illustrate THEIR point.

WSL needs urgently to clarify judging and apply equal and fair judging to save the progression of the sport.”

So, how will the WSL respond to criticism from one of their top athletes? Stay tuned.

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