Preseason Surfer Profile: Gabriel Medina

Gabriel Medina, Brazil

2016 Go Left World Ranking Projection: 1

2015 World Ranking: 2

2015 WCT Wins: 1

It was really a tale of two seasons for Medina in 2015. I have to admit that a 25^th and three 13ths in his first five events last season had me scratching my head. Had he enjoyed the offseason a little too much following his remarkable 2014 World Title season? Was 2014 an aberration? These questions were running through my head, but really I just thought that we had a sleeping giant on our hands with too much talent to continue his struggles. It turns out that Medina was that sleeping giant, and a fifth-place finish at J-Bay seemed to signal his awakening. Medina would make at least the quarterfinals in the final six events of the season, again resembling the wunderkind that we saw dominate in 2014.

Gabriel Medina could be about to embark on a run to his second World Title.
Courtesy of A Scott

You could argue that Medina is the most dangerous surfer currently on tour. He can post 10s in so many different conditions thanks to his versatile game. He’s probably the last guy I would want to draw in a random heat to be surfed at a random WCT location. Medina made a name for himself early on with ridiculous airs that a guy of his size usually can’t pull off with such altitude and style. I think a lot of people started to think of him simply as an aerial guy for a bit, but he’s since proven that he can turn it up in a variety of ways in a plethora of conditions.

Medina has a ridiculous backside rail game that makes him a serious threat in any right-heavy event, such as J-Bay, where he reached the quarters in 2015 and started his run. Some of the backside hacks he puts on rights are insane, and he has a smoothness and rhythm to his transitions that yearn for big scores and are often sated by numbers in the excellent range. Before 2014, Medina’s weakness was supposedly big-wave conditions, but his win that year in Fiji squashed that narrative pretty quickly. Just in case anyone saw that victory as a fluke, Gabby put on a show in Tahiti and took home top honors in some serious barrels there as well.

So to recap, Medina started the 2015 season very slowly, and was still in World Title contention at Pipe. That’s extremely hard to do, but the kid finished the year with a 5^th, 2^nd, 3^rd, 1^st, 5^th and 2^nd. If he surfs anything like that for the duration of 2016 he will win his second World Title and make it three straight for Brazil. I still favored Mick Fanning slightly for the crown this season before he announced his abridged schedule, but I wouldn’t be remotely surprised to see Medina run away with the race in the wake of Mick’s decision. I expect John John Florence to be in the running in 2016, and that he and Medina will be battling it out for the World Title for years to come, but I favor Medina significantly right now due to his strategic nature in the lineup. It’s clear that Medina is a perennial World Title threat, and should be for the next decade or so barring major injury.

Follow Morgan, founder of Go Left, on Twitter @GoLeftSurf

Mick Fanning to Surf Only Select Events in 2016

Three-time World Champ Mick Fanning has announced that he’s going to take a personal year, surfing selected events instead of participating in the full 2016 WSL Championship Tour season. That’s huge news. In my opinion, Mick is currently the best competitive surfer on tour, as well as the most consistent. His last four seasons have resulted in finishes of third, first, second and second in the World Rankings. That is incredible, especially when you consider how strong the Top 34 is from top to bottom these days. I had Mick as the number one surfer in the Go Left 2016 Projected World Rankings (adjustments will be made).

Mick Fanning will not surf a full season in 2016.
Courtesy of MarkYourWaves Surf

If anyone deserves some time off, it’s Fanning. 2015 was a tough year for the Aussie star. His much-publicized shark encounter during the J-Bay final would shake anyone to the core, and the fact that he emerged physically unscathed defied all odds. Mick also learned of the passing of his brother during the Pipe Masters last year. Both of these things can certainly change one’s perspective, and how could you do anything but respect Mick’s decision here? He’s said that he will surf Snapper and Bells for sure, and likely J-Bay, but has not committed to any other stops. Mick still wants to remain on tour, making it clear that this is not a retirement, so he’ll have to notch enough points in the events he does surf to qualify for 2017. All in all, this is an understandable move by a guy that has more than earned the right to do whatever he pleases, though it has major ramifications as far as the 2016 season goes.

Follow Morgan, founder of Go Left, on Twitter @GoLeftSurf

Preseason Surfer Profile: Filipe Toledo

Leading up to the 2016 World Surf League Championship Tour season, I will be counting down my projected Top 10 surfers for the highest level of men's competitive surfing. A preview of the women's 2016 season is also to come.

Filipe Toledo, Brazil

2016 Go Left World Ranking Projection: 6

2015 World Ranking: 4

2015 WCT Wins: 3

Filipe Toledo is arguably the most exciting surfer on tour. When he has the chance to take to the air, everybody on the beach collectively holds their breath. Toledo experienced a serious breakout year in 2015, winning two of the first four stops on the World Tour on his way to finishing fourth in the rankings at year’s end. He had a shot at the World Title going into Pipe, but so did several others surfers. While Toledo is known for his air game, he continues to improve the other facets of his surfing each year. A ninth-place finish in Tahiti and a 13^th in Fiji show that he’s improving his barrel riding, something that needs to continue if he wants to win a World Title.

Filipe Toledo, doing what he does best and going to the air.
Courtesy of Steven Tyler PJs

Toledo is no longer just an aerial specialist, which makes him a contender in 2016. However, I see a bit of regression coming in his ranking, mostly due to the positives I expect from guys that could leapfrog him in the ranks more than any negatives relating to Toledo. Filipe is still just 20 years old, though, and if he makes significant strides at certainly tour stops this season he could end up winning the World Title. I don’t think I can remember a season in which there were so many legitimate World Title contenders. Hell, Brazil has three on its own. Toledo is a must-see surfer in rampy conditions, and if he can continue to get better at other events on tour he could very well be hoisting the hardware next winter. 

Follow Morgan, founder of Go Left, on Twitter @GoLeftSurf

Mick Fanning Leads World Tour Rankings

In 1976, Peter Townend was named surfing's first World Champion. The odd part about that honor being bestowed on Townend was the fact that he didn't win an event that year. However, he surfed the most events and was consistent enough in those contests that the point system used by the then-IPS awarded him the trophy (even if the trophy was a fake). This year, we've got another Townend situation brewing, as Mick Fanning has been the model of consistency this season, reaching at least the quarterfinals of every event this year but failing to win one as of yet. We're at the mid-point of the tour, and Mick owns a narrow lead over Kelly Slater. Reigning World Champ Joel Parkinson, fresh off his dramatic win at Keramas, has catapulted himself into third place in the rankings after some disappointing results earlier in the year. Jordy Smith is currently slated fourth, while Taj Burrow rounds out the Top 5.

Who is the favorite to win the World Title this season? Your guess is as good as mine, as this race feels increasingly tight with every passing event. Nobody is separating themselves from the pack, but again, there are still five events to be surfed. Could Mick keep surfing well but missing out on wins and still take home the title this season? It's possible unless someone really tightens their game and puts up some big results. If I were Fanning, I would be most worried about Kelly and Parko, for rather obvious reasons. Kelly can win any event at any time, and if he decides to flip his killer instinct switch he could run away with this thing before anyone knew what happened. Parko, on the other hand, just got his first win of the season, and in doing so looked like the Parko of 2012. These three guys are the favorites right now in my eyes, though Jordy, Taj and Adriano are definitely in the mix. If you want a dark horse, then I'd go with Nat Young, who is surfing better than ever right now and has shown some serious consistency in his own right this season. Should be a hell of a race.

Watch: A Fly in the Champagne

Interesting documentary on the rivalry between Kelly Slater and the late Andy Irons.  Trailer and full movie below: