...could it have been anyone else? Medina is very disliked outside of the Brazilian surfing community and needs to grow up a lot if he is to be an ambassador for the sport. No one I have spoken to wanted him to win (and I talk to a lot of folks in the surfing community, both at high levels within the competition world and with locals in many locations). Plus he put me in the very embarrassing position of cheering for Mick Fanning, which was like cheering for the Raiders. There are other talented surfers from Brazil, and I don't think anyone cares that the champ is from Brazil but why did it have to be this drop-in kook. Get ready for a long year in the surfing world.
Live long and surf!
Live long and surf!