Gabriel Medina, the three-time World Champion, has shared his thoughts on the highly debated 2025 Lexus Pipe Pro men’s final, which saw Barron Mamiya and Leonardo Fioravanti tie with identical scores of 17.97 from their two best waves. Mamiya clinched the victory by earning a higher score on his top wave. The dramatic finale has sparked a flurry of opinions, with fans and surfers alike voicing their thoughts on the competitors, the waves, and the judges’ decisions.
Medina, who was recovering from pectoral surgery in Brazil, watched the final from home like many surf fans—thousands of miles away from the action. Known for his outspoken views on judging, especially regarding his own performances, Medina took to Instagram to express his take on the contest.
Medina was particularly impressed with Mamiya’s standout 9.80, a Backdoor barrel that helped him secure his second consecutive Pipe Pro title, a feat not accomplished since Andy Irons in 2005-06. “It was a really good wave, and he did everything right,” Medina said. “It was a fast tube, and he managed to pass the foam ball. It had more difficulty. The score of 9.80 was fair compared to the other scores given during the heat.”
Medina, however, was less impressed with Mamiya’s second wave, an 8.17, which he described as “a short wave for Pipeline” with minimal difficulty. By this point, Fioravanti was trailing far behind with a score of 1.5. The Italian made an impressive comeback, catching two waves in quick succession that ultimately tied him with Mamiya.
Medina felt that Fioravanti’s first wave, an 8.87, deserved at least one point more than Mamiya’s first wave. “Leo rode over the foam ball two times. When there’s a foam ball, you need more stability and technique. It was a longer wave than Barron’s first, so I would have given it at least one point more,” Medina explained. “But in the end, the difference was less than a point.”
As for Fioravanti’s final wave, which scored a 9.10, Medina offered a more critical assessment. “I don’t think this was the best wave of the heat,” he said. “It was maybe a little less than the 9.80. I would score it around 9.50 for difficulty. Leo rode over the foam ball two times, showing great technique. He had to slow down, wait for the foam ball, let it pass, then accelerated again to ride over it once more. The wave was just as long as Barron’s 9.80 and his previous 8.87. For the distance traveled and the level of difficulty, Leo’s two waves could have received higher scores, which would have changed the outcome.”
While Medina stopped short of declaring Fioravanti the rightful winner, his analysis suggests that the Italian’s performances may have warranted higher scores. Medina’s deep understanding of competitive surfing and his sharp insights as a former champion bring significant weight to his comments.
The Brazilian icon will continue to share his expertise on competitive surfing, as he is set to provide commentary for Globo at the upcoming Surf Abu Dhabi Pro.
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