Gabriel Medina is on top of the rankings, doing some of the best surfing of his storied career and warming up at Main Break, Margaret River with a giant swell on the way for the Boost Mobile Margaret River Pro presented by Corona.
But to keep his healthy lead he's going to have to contend with fellow two-time World Champion John John Florence, whose performances at this wave have redefined what it means to dominate a Championship Tour heat.
Not to mention Italo Ferreira is hot on his heels, surfing big, stormy and onshore Main Break solo, getting ready for the event. Is he feeling any pressure?
It's no secret that John John Florence is the benchmark at Main Break, but Medina doesn't really have a weakness in his game right now - WSL / Kelly Cestari
"Everyone starts from zero, no one has an advantage until the heat is over," Medina said when asked if he could match Florence's carves at Main Break.
Anyone could theoretically unsettle Medina's lead, but it's hard not to consider World Number Three Florence the favorite for this event considering his dominance here over the years -- he's the benchmark for big, searing turns in powerful waves, and Main Break is a canvass that will let him unleash.
John John Florence has done some of the best turns in Championship Tour history at Main Break - WSL / Matt Dunbar
He's also been eliminates by Tour Rookie Morgan Cibilic in the last two events, so there's an expectation he's going to come into this event looking to remind everyone that once the waves get big and wild, he's the guy. But It's Medina who is wearing the Yellow Jersey, and Medina who right now doesn't look to have a weakness in his approach...
Keep in mind too that Florence is a natural footer, and it's the rights which score highest, while Medina is on his backhand unless he jags a good left.
"I'm ready for anything, I'm not scared of anyone, I just want to perform well. I just want to play the game, and I'm looking for a good result," he said.
The biggest board Medina has with him is a 6'8" step up, which is likely to get a run in the opening days of the window if the forecast for very large swell and good winds proves correct.
"With boards I feel good, I'm ready for anything," he said. "It will be fun, and we're going to have waves which is good. Narrabeen was nice, we had a couple little waves, but finally everyone's going to have opportunities.
"I like to surf whenever there's a lot of opportunities ... as long as we have waves and opportunities, I feel happy to surf."
Can Gabriel Medina Match John John Florence With Carves At Main Break?
Ben Collins
Gabriel Medina is on top of the rankings, doing some of the best surfing of his storied career and warming up at Main Break, Margaret River with a giant swell on the way for the Boost Mobile Margaret River Pro presented by Corona.
But to keep his healthy lead he's going to have to contend with fellow two-time World Champion John John Florence, whose performances at this wave have redefined what it means to dominate a Championship Tour heat.
Not to mention Italo Ferreira is hot on his heels, surfing big, stormy and onshore Main Break solo, getting ready for the event. Is he feeling any pressure?
"Everyone starts from zero, no one has an advantage until the heat is over," Medina said when asked if he could match Florence's carves at Main Break.
Anyone could theoretically unsettle Medina's lead, but it's hard not to consider World Number Three Florence the favorite for this event considering his dominance here over the years -- he's the benchmark for big, searing turns in powerful waves, and Main Break is a canvass that will let him unleash.
He's also been eliminates by Tour Rookie Morgan Cibilic in the last two events, so there's an expectation he's going to come into this event looking to remind everyone that once the waves get big and wild, he's the guy. But It's Medina who is wearing the Yellow Jersey, and Medina who right now doesn't look to have a weakness in his approach...
Keep in mind too that Florence is a natural footer, and it's the rights which score highest, while Medina is on his backhand unless he jags a good left.
"I'm ready for anything, I'm not scared of anyone, I just want to perform well. I just want to play the game, and I'm looking for a good result," he said.
The biggest board Medina has with him is a 6'8" step up, which is likely to get a run in the opening days of the window if the forecast for very large swell and good winds proves correct.
"With boards I feel good, I'm ready for anything," he said. "It will be fun, and we're going to have waves which is good. Narrabeen was nice, we had a couple little waves, but finally everyone's going to have opportunities.
"I like to surf whenever there's a lot of opportunities ... as long as we have waves and opportunities, I feel happy to surf."
Gabriel Medina
3x World Champ Gabriel Medina turned it on once again at Main Break in a battle of the goofy-footers facing Ryan Callinan. Medina's
A clash of the titans kicked men's action into high gear with 2022 event winner and Western Australia's own Jack Robinson facing 3x World
Featuring Gabriel Medina, John John Florence, Liam O'Brien, Yago Dora, Italo Ferreira, Carissa Moore, Griffin Colapinto, Tatiana
Featuring Jordy Smith, Gabriel Medina, Tyler Wright, George Pittar, Sawyer Lindblad, Caroline Marks, Samuel Pupo, Griffin Colapinto, Ethan
Medina has found his gear upon reaching stop No. 4 Bells Beach, dropping a commanding 17.33 Heat total which included a near-perfect 9.33 +
Boost Mobile Margaret River Pro presented by Corona
The WSL Photo Dept. offers up some candid moments picked from their thousands of images shot during the four-stop Australian leg of the CT.
The Boost Mobile Margaret River Pro presented by Corona is in the books ... and here's what you didn't see on the live broadcast.
After a fierce Finals Day, Filipe Toledo and Tatiana Weston-Webb have taken out the Boost Mobile Margaret River Pro presented by Corona.
McGillivray eliminates Seth Moniz to join fellow South African, Jordy Smith, in the Semifinals in Margaret River.