Features

The MEO Rip Curl Portugal Pro In Quotes

“He’s a happy-go-lucky dude, he’s a Gumby, he’s a freak.”

“They’re the peloton that’s busted away from the field.” — Kelly Slater on John John & Medina, getting his cycling metaphors hopelessly confused.

“It’s been pumping for three days and we’ve been sitting at Supertubos watching close-outs. It’s meant to be the world’s best surfers in the world’s best waves, and this is meant to be a mobile event, and to be frank this move has come two days too late.” — Ace Buchan tells it like it is in his post-heat interview, after losing in Round 2.

“A fucking 10! It’s a fucking 10!”

“He needs to really blow this thing wide open to put down an excellent score and take hold of this heat because right now it’s wide open.” — Strider Wasilewski leaves himself wide open.

“A fucking 10! It’s a fucking 10!” — an elated Graeme Smith in the VIP area, following son Jordy’s semi-final drainer.

“Thing is, if Jordy is going to keep the World Title dream alive for all South Africans, he will probably need another two of those waves tomorrow… then another six of them at Backdoor in December.” — Sean Doherty for Surfer Mag.

“2nd event in a row Gabe shoots own foot.” — Matt Warshaw @mattwarshaw.

“A nice little shack here for Conor but how’s this Gene Hackman right here? Nice little old school hack right there…” — Ross Williams.

“I’m just gonna go out there and do airs.” — newly crowned World Champion John John Florence, before the final.

“Gabriel Medina is just doing push-ups right now and thinking about next year, I’m gonna tell ya.”

“He’s a happy-go-lucky dude, he’s a Gumby, he’s a freak.” — Ross Williams on John John Florence.

“A bit of Alfred Hitchcock’s Birds just to add to the scene here Strider, as we’re seeing Jordy Smith looking for a comeback story . . .” — ‘Ryan’ Gigs Cilliers reaches for an apposite cultural reference as an ominous flock of birds invade the line-up during Jordy’s semi-final.

“I might cry or something later, but right now I’m just going to enjoy it.” — John John Florence.

Strider Wasilewski: “And when he stuck his foot into the ring and said, ‘I want a world title’ — after winning the Eddie Aikau this morning, or this year, with the flow, it’s just one of those feelings of, ‘oh wow, it can be done,’ and I think any of these guys on tour, if they really want it, they just have to put their foot into the . . . er . . . and say that they want it, and walk around like they want it. That was something that we saw to John John this year, a whole new face, a whole new composure, the chest, just the shoulders, just walking around like he wanted it — and you know, Potts can probably, you know, speak to this, you gotta look like you want it.”
Joe Turpel: “So cool, Strider, getting that insight . . .”

Conner Coffin: “You owe me one perfect 8 footer at Pipe.”
John John: “I’ll give you, like, two.”

“Gabriel Medina is just doing push-ups right now and thinking about next year, I’m gonna tell ya.” — Strider Wasilewski.

“The Best Surfer On The Planet” — Surfer Mag headline.

“I don’t think I’m the best surfer in the world — everyone surfs a little bit differently. I just like to go surf and have fun.” — John John Florence.