The massive backside air that earned Gabes Medina the event’s highest single-wave score of a near-perfect 9.97 Credit: ASP/SMORIGO

Many feel Gabes Medina has largely under-performed on tour this year (although a 2nd and 3rd place ain’t that bad…) but his recent victory at the World Junior Champs in Brazil over Ramzi Boukhiam serves as a reminder as to how much time the Brazilian whizz kid has on his hands.

“This feels really good,” Medina said. “I’m so happy to win this event and I’ve never had a World Title in the juniors. That was a great Final against Ramzi. He’s a good friend of mine and he was surfing good all week. I just tried to do my thing in the final, airs, turns, and I got two good scores. I’m going to prepare for Hawaii now and hopefully I can finish the year strong.”

Ramzi Boukhiam, who finished third in last year’s World Juniors, went one step further this year thanks to some spectacular power surfing and will no doubt use the result to build yet more momentum on the world rankings.

“I was hoping Gabriel wouldn’t do his big airs and I knew I’d need two 9s to beat him,” Boukhiam said. “Congrats to him and he surfed amazing. Thanks to everyone for the support and everyone back in Morocco. I want to thank my Dad, who is watching me from the sky, and my Mom and brother.”

MEN’S HD WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS FINAL RESULT:

1 – Gabriel Medina (BRA) 18.26
2 – Ramzi Boukhiam (MAR) 11.60

MEN’S HD WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS SEMIFINALS RESULTS:

SF 1: Ramzi Boukhiam (MAR) 16.03 def. Matt Banting (AUS) 12.33
SF 2: Gabriel Medina (BRA) 17.94 def. Hiroto Ohhara (JPN) 10.54

MEN’S HD WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS QUARTERFINALS RESULTS:

QF 1: Matt Banting (AUS) 15.37 def. Michael Rodrigues (BRA) 13.33
QF 2: Ramzi Boukhiam (MAR) 14.00 def. Oney Anwar (IDN) 11.04
QF 3: Gabriel Medina (BRA) 16.64 def. Slade Prestwich (ZAF) 14.97
QF 4: Hiroto Ohhara (JPN) 10.17 def. Vehiatua Prunier (PYF) 9.24