I’m not saying Gabriel won’t be pleased with his new world title. I’m sure he’s delighted. But I reckon when he looks back on his career in years to come, perhaps when he’s recounting stories of his world-conquering surfing exploits to his grandchildren, he’ll name without hesitation his Surf Europe cover as the proudest moment of his career – the pivotal moment when he realized he was destined for greatness.

The shot in question was of a nonsensically deep forehand tube at Teahupoo, which, Gabriel being Gabriel, he somehow managed to make. Note the white-water sucking up the face ahead of him and threatening to rip his board out from under his feet. Note the tranquillity with which he negotiates it, the steady composure of his stance, the absence of flailing. Back in 2012, a lot of us still questioned Medina’s ability in bigger surf, but a series of hugely impressive tube-riding performances at some of the heaviest waves on the planet have silenced many — if not quite all — of the critics, and it was at Teahupoo where he recorded the second of his three world tour victories this year.

Buy yourself a copy of the issue here, as a souvenir, before they start turning up on Ebay for hundreds and thousands of (Zimbabwean) dollars.