Gabriel Medina – The Brazilian Storm Leader
“The Power Technician”
🌊 Basic Info
Full Name: Gabriel Medina Pinto Ferreira
Nickname: Medina
Born: December 22, 1993 – São Sebastião, São Paulo, Brazil
Nationality: Brazilian
Surfing Stance: Goofy
Favorite Surf Spots: Supertubos (Portugal), Pipeline, Maresias (Brazil), Teahupo’o
🏆 Career Highlights
Championships & Titles:
3× World Champion (2014, 2018, 2021)
First-ever Brazilian male surfer to win a world title
Olympic bronze medalist at Tokyo 2020 (held in 2021)
Notable Competitions:
Rip Curl Pro Portugal, Billabong Pipe Masters, Quiksilver Pro France
Pivotal member of the explosive Brazilian Storm generation
Best Performances:
2014 Title win at 20 years old, shaking up the sport
Dominated the 2021 season with powerful backhand barrels and next-level airs
2021 Finals at Trestles – unstoppable in both rights and lefts
Signature Moves:
Air reverses, alley-oops, and one of the most dangerous backhand tube attacks on tour
Aggressive and tactical – known for pushing priority and heat strategy to the limit
🏄♂️ Surfing Style & Equipment
Board Preferences:
Rides for Cabianca Surfboards, shaped by Johnny Cabianca – his longtime board craftsman
Switches between high-performance thrusters and step-ups depending on the swell
Wetsuit & Gear:
Formerly with Rip Curl, now often seen in custom suits and Brazilian-branded gear
Also partners with brands like Audi Brazil and local surf lifestyle labels
Training & Fitness:
Trains like a full-time athlete – strength, cardio, core, balance, and air-specific drills
Works with surf coaches, mental trainers, and physiotherapists
Wave Preferences:
Loves powerful beach breaks, hollow reef breaks, and waves that allow aerial expression
Absolutely lethal at spots like Supertubos, Pipeline, and France’s Hossegor
🌍 Life Beyond Surfing
Hobbies & Interests:
Enjoys football (big Neymar fan), motocross, and Brazilian music
Passionate about art and often shares personal sketches and creative projects
Social Causes:
Runs the Gabriel Medina Institute, a surf training center in Maresias focused on mentoring young Brazilian surfers
Involved in several education and youth sports initiatives across Brazil
Fun Facts:
He’s a national hero in Brazil and was once the subject of a Netflix-style docuseries
His mom and stepfather were his original coaches, managing his career from childhood
Speaks fluent Portuguese and solid English, bridging global surf culture
🎥 Photos & Videos
Check out his performance in Stab High, WSL Finals, and The Brazilian Storm documentaries
📢 Latest News & Updates
In 2025, Medina is back on tour after a brief break in 2023 due to personal and mental health reasons
He’s already made two finals this season and looks hungry for a fourth world title
Gabriel just opened a second location of his surf institute and is working on a signature board model with Cabianca
