Reflections from the Surf Ranch Pro, "The hierarchy the Ranch imposes leaves me cold. Money buys access here, pure and simple. That reality smashes most of the soul and spontaneity out of the thing"

By Derek Rielly

1 week ago

"One day, you will compete here in Brazil. Us will remember you. Get ready."

Business as usual, I suppose, as Brazilian surf fans poured on the vitriol and the usual death threats following Gabriel Medina's shock quarter-final loss to Australian Ethan Ewing at the Surf Ranch Pro.

It was the first time in four Surf Ranch events Medina hadn't made the final. (He's won it twice.) His record gets even wilder when you add his win at the 2017 Future Classic speciality event there. Real hard to beat.

In a see-sawing quarter, Ethan and Gabriel both finished on 16.67 points, Ethan swinging through to the final by having the highest single wave score of the heat, a 9.07 to Gabriel's 8.67.

A post shared by World Surf League (@wsl)

See the full heat, below, if you wanna compare, see the scale etc.

And, over on the WSL's Instagram page, which rarely gets more than a dozen comments aside from a few bots, Brazilian surf fans went nuts.

Let's invade Saquarema! Protest against this rigged league

When Brazil's stage arrives, the judges get piano and judge even right, last year it was like that. Because the previous leg was El Salvador and there was that robbery there of Filipe against Griffin in the final.

Griffin is WSL darling for being American just like Ewing and Robinson for being Australian. The guys don't accept the World Championship of another Brazilian for a financial reason and appeal to the two most important markets for surfing: USA and Australia. Justice, righteousness, right, have been relegated to the background because interest is financial. WSL is a SHAME

Ruin the sport with no shame

Bullshit!!! Medina win in water and judges win in paper….Nonsense

how far has it come. For the USA to beat the Brazilians just by stealing. Shame league!!!!!

WE MUST PROTEST IN SAQUAREMA AGAINST THIS DISGUSTING LEAGUE!!!

The absurdity was not the score of 9.07 for Ewing, BUT THE RIDICULOUS SCORE THAT MEDINA RECEIVED IN THE SAME WAVE… It seems that the judges have a higher level of demand for MEDINA. AN INJUSTICE TO THE NAKED EYES!!! EXPLAIN THIS WSL!?…

And on, and on.

Ewing, meanwhile, received a couple of tangy DMs from a man dressed as a solder called André Guizelini.

"One day, you will compete here in Brazil and us will remember you. Get ready."

"I’m saying again, here in Brazil, we will kill you. Saquarema will be your funeral."

Ethan posted the DMs with the note, "How good are surfing fans!"

You’ll remember the sad Brazilian faces, of course, when Griffin Colapinto beat Filipe Toledo in El Salvador last year.

Read, Brazilian surf fans apoplectic following Californian Griffin Colapinto's "shock" win over world title favourite Filipe Toledo, "World Shame League! This event was a joke!" and Latin surf fans vow to create chaos at next World Tour event in Brazil following Filipe Toledos controversial loss to Californian in El Salvador, "The biggest protest in history in Saquarema! Bring banners, balloons, planes, boo all the time! Make them leave due to emotional stress!")

It got so bad Griff's mama came out swinging.

"I will protect you until the day I die! Even if I need a walker and a cane and even if you don't need mom backup . Anyway, I’m making a point! Terrible things still happen I’m this world (I mean, watch a Dateline Episode, for F sake). And an outcome in a surf contest where the top guys still make good money is upsetting the masses? I have no words."

Over at camp Toledo, meanwhile, Pip's daddy Ricky just poured flames on the outrage.

"Griffin… of course you are not to blame for what is happening with the Wsl judgment… We really hope that something will be done, and that this will change, as it is becoming unbearable to see and hear the things we are hearing. during the events, I am embarrassed for the others… @filipetoledo , you have shown yourself to be a true soldier in the war, defending your homeland, where we clearly see that, you are targeted and keep moving forward! WHAT A WARRIOR!!! my congratulations son, the world is proud of you, who despite everything, has been a true "gentleman", always responding with great ethics, respect and wisdom. So proud of the human being who has shown himself to be a true champion! And you know it…🤷‍♂️ "The eyes of the LORD are in every place, keeping watch upon the evil and the good."

Tell me, are Brazilians the world's sorest losers or passionate followers whose enthusiasm should be treasured?