By: Redação GE / Image: WSL
The Teahupoo Sea, in Tahiti, provided one of the most spectacular moments in WSL history this Thursday. On a day of heavy, dangerous and dazzling waves, Brazilian surfers redeemed themselves after a below-average start to the year on the World Surfing Circuit. With a great performance, Gabriel Medina lost in the semifinals to John John Florence after getting a 10 in the quarterfinals. Italo Ferreira surfed against Medina's tormentor in the grand final of the sixth stage and avenged his compatriot. The native of Rio Grande do Norte dominated the decision and was champion for the first time in the Teahupoo waves with a score of 17.70 to 17.16.
The current Olympic champion did not give John John Florence any space in the final and was sovereign in winning his first title on the waves of Tahiti. The Teahupoo stage not only served to distribute points in the World Surfing Circuit ranking, it was good training for the Olympic Games, as this wave will be the stage for the Olympics. Italo Ferreira failed to qualify for the Games - Gabriel Medina, Filipe Toledo, João Chianca, Tatiana Weston-Webb, Luana Silva and Tainá Hinckel will represent Brazil.Italo Ferreira is champion in Teahupoo
Italo Ferreira is champion in Teahupoo
John John Florence rarely makes a mistake on the heat, especially in epic conditions at Teahupoo. But, at the beginning of the heat, the Hawaiian suffered a major fall in the wave, which opened up space for Italo to come in behind and score 8.93. Italo achieved another good score in the middle of the heat by scoring 8.77 on a good barrel. John John was lost for almost the entire contest, but with less than five minutes to go, the Hawaiian found the best wave in the heat as seen by the judges. He did 9.33 and needed 8.37 to turn the heat.
The Brazilian managed to hold on to the result until the end and won the title of the sixth stage of the World Surfing Circuit. Since 2021 without lifting a trophy, Italo has once again won a championship in the WSL elite. The native of Rio Grande do Norte climbs 11 positions and reaches fifth place in the tour ranking. Italo is the fourth Brazilian to win the Teahupoo stage. He joined Bruno Santos (2008), Gabriel Medina (2014 and 2018) and Miguel Pupo (2022).
After a difficult start to the season for Brazilian surfing, Italo Ferreira, Gabriel Medina, Yago Dora and Tatiana Weston-Webb showed that there is still time to make up for the losses and seek a place in the final at Trestles this year. Yago Dora reached the quarterfinals in Teahupoo and moved up five places in the rankings. Medina moved up seven by reaching the semi-final, and Italo entered the top 5 on the circuit.
Italo got another good score in the middle of the heat by getting 8.77 on a good tube. John John was lost for almost the entire contest, but with less than five minutes to go, the Hawaiian found the best wave in the heat as seen by the judges. He did 9.33 and needed 8.37 to turn the heat.
Final result
Italo Ferreira 17.70 x 17.16 John John Florence
