Twice world surfing champion Gabriel Medina has extended his long term relationship with surfing company Rip Curl in a new five year deal. Medina has been with Rip Curl 12 years and the contract cements his position as the number one Rip Curl rider in the hunt for his third WSL World Title.
“Rip Curl and I, we have been together a long time and we know each other well,” said Medina. “We have a lot of respect and support for each other and they are a surfing company all the way through.”
Standing tall at 180cms and just on 80 kilos, the powerful goofy foot revels in the heavy reef break conditions of the Banzai Pipeline. “The waves are going to be good for Pipe and I love it there. I want to get the tour started and surf hard again. I’m ready.”
With the 2020 World Surfing Tour cancelled due to Covid-19, the surfing world awaits as competition resumes at the Billabong Pipe Masters on December 8. Medina, from Maresias, Sao Paulo, Brazil, won both his 2014 and 2018 world titles at Pipeline and enters the resumed race as one of the top five contenders for the 2021 world title.
It will be a big year for Medina, age 26, who will represent his nation at the Tokyo Olympics later in 2021 and will aim to win the Gold medal and the title in one year. A feat never before achieved.
