ReutersBrazil’s Italo Ferreira on Thursday upset compatriot Gabriel Medina to win his first world surfing title in powerful, but less-than-perfect waves at Hawaii’s famed Pipeline. Ferreira used perfect timing and positioning to negotiate the biggest, most critical tubing waves, often punctuating them with technical aerial maneuvers to finish. I dedicated all my life to this,” Ferreira said after being carried up the beach and doused in champagne. Five surfers went into the final event of the 11-stop World Championship Tour (WCT) in contention for the title, but it all came down to Medina and Ferreira. Medina then stormed through the quarter-finals and semi-finals, and looked destined for a third world title before Ferreira toppled him in a gripping finale.

Source: Taipei Times December 20, 2019 15:56 UTC