Gabriel Medina scored 19.9. Photo / Brett Phibbs
Brazilian wonderkid Gabriel Medina provided the highlight of the final day of the ISA junior world championships in Piha, wowing spectators with his aerial manoeuvres on his way to taking out the final of the boys' under-18 division.
Medina blitzed his competition with a near-perfect 19.90 (out of a possible
20) for his two best scoring waves.
The prodigious goofy-footer unleashed a barrage of new-school manoeuvres, blending effortless aerials and fin throws with powerful rail surfing, claiming the event's only perfect 10-point ride in the process.
The 16-year-old finished five points clear of Australian Jordin Watson (14.92), who narrowly edged out Tahiti's Tamaroa McComb (14.90) for the silver medal.
Australia took out the overall prize, clinching their fifth straight teams title after Tyler Wright took out the girls' under-18 title and Matt Banting's win in the under-16 boys grade.
New Zealand finished seventh overall in the placings, matching their effort from last year's world championships in Ecuador.
Ben Poulter produced the best performance by a Kiwi at the event, finishing sixth in the boys' under-16 division.
The young Raglan surfer came agonisingly close to securing a podium finish.
Poulter finished third in the final round of qualifying with a two-wave total of 12.02, just short of Japan's Hiroti Arai on 12.12 - the 0.1 point costing him direct entry in to the grand final.
"Yeah, I don't know how to describe that loss. It sucked, I don't know, it was so close. I don't know any other way to describe it," said Poulter.
The result dropped him into the last repechage heat but still with a strong chance of making the final with the best two of the four surfers in the heat progressing.
Poulter started well but was overhauled to finish fourth in a tight heat won by Hawaiian Koa Smith, with American Jake Halstead second.
Despite failing to make the final, Poulter received a hero's welcome when he returned to the beach, with his teammates performing a rousing haka to acknowledge the Raglan youngster's giant-killing run through the event. Australian-based Sarah Mason was the last Kiwi girl involved in the championships but had a disappointing two-wave total of 10.76, which saw her eliminated.
