- WSL / Bonnarme/Aquashot
- WSL / Bonnarme/Aquashot
Blast from the QS Past: Medina's Idyllic French Summer
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Re-trace Gabriel Medina's incredible rise through the ranks during the 2011 summer in France.

In 2011, Gabriel Medina landed in Lacanau, France as a semi-unknown youngster from Brazil.

The 17-year-old goofy blew minds with an air game lightyears ahead of his field in the Airwalk Lacanau Pro Junior. He racked up incredible scores all week, such as an 18.06 in Round 1, an incredible 19.94 in Round 2 and a perfect 20.00 in the Semifinals.

Medina Medina at Lacanau - WSL / Bastien Bonnarme

He met with French up-and-comers Medi Veminardi, William Aliotti and Australian Ryan Callinan in the Final. Medina once again stole the show, with 19.93 to take out his first Pro Junior win.

The following week, the Brazilian took on the main event, the QS6,000 Soöruz Lacanau Pro. The perfect little lefts once again provided plenty of ramps for Medina to raise above the field.

He defeated Kiron Jabour in the Quarters, Kolohe Andino in the Semis and Mitch Crews in the Final with 19.23 points.

The following week, just a few kilometers down the coast in the Basque Country, Medina continued to dominate and took out back-to-back QS6,000 wins with his victory at the San Miguel Pro Zarautz. Back in 2011, the mid-season cut-off allowed Medina with a massive QS tally to qualify for the Championship Tour in August.

Medina at Zarautz Medina at Zarautz - WSL

A month later, Gabriel Medina came back to Europe for the Quiksilver Pro France, and notoriously clinched his first CT event in Hossegor in an epic final clash with Julian Wilson.

Final Day Highlights - 2011 Quiksilver Pro France
Gabriel Medina (BRA), newcomer to the elite Tour after September's rotation, wins his inaugural ASP World Tour event at the 2011 Quik Pro France.

That's why 2011 was the year Gabriel Medina took France by storm.

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