In the build up to Snapper, certain platitudes must be trotted out year after year.

Accepted wisdoms, received conventions. One such states that ‘It’s easier to win a world title than defend one’. Furthermore, the only thing harder than defending a title, is defending a maiden world title.

The statistics suggest some substance in all this. Indeed, Andy Irons (in 2003) is the only surfer to have backed up a maiden world title since Curren did in ’86.

But Gabe’s defence promises to fare better than those of unsuccessful campaigns of Hardman, Lynch, Potter, Slater, Ho, Occhilupo, Garcia, Hobgood, Fanning and Parkinson.

Will he be as hungry?
Are you serious?

Has he being doing too much victory lap media?
Too much for a ‘year’ that starts in March?

Will he handle the added pressure?
He seemed to surf better under pressure at the back end of last year.