For Gabriel Medina, the energy goes both ways.
Returning to the World Surf League Championship Tour (CT) this year after missing the 2025 season with a pectoral injury, the three-time world champion has come back with a bang – sitting at No 1 in the world after the first three events of the year.
Now, ahead of the tour’s first event in Raglan this week, the Brazilian star has been made to feel at home both on and off the water.
With the tour taking to the famed left-hand point break at Manu Bay over the coming fortnight, Medina, a goofy-footed surfer, gets a rare opportunity to surf on his frontside. In the lead-up to the event, the 32-year-old has also made plenty of time for fans, particularly the younger generation, as he looks to pass on the stoke.
“I love being around them because they have good energy and they are so just pure, you know, pure love and support,” Medina told the Herald.
“It’s always fun everywhere we go, we have the support from the kids, especially, and it just motivates us. It makes sense, like what we’re doing, because it’s about inspiring the next generation.
“I used to be a little kid before and I know how it is. So, I’m just trying to be a good example for the new generation because there are guys before me that were really cool with me, like Mick [Fanning], Kelly [Slater], Parko [Joel Parkinson], and I’m just passing what I learned. It’s been really fun.”
The event, which could get underway as early as Friday but has a window from May 15 to 25, will be the first time the World Surf League (WSL) has hosted a men’s CT event in New Zealand, and the first time since 2013 that the women’s CT has been held on Kiwi shores.
For Medina, he has come into the new campaign refreshed after his injury-enforced layoff and shapes up as one of the favourites for the contest.
Although he was forced out of action in 2025, he said he continued to work hard on his craft and that was showing early on in the campaign.
“I’ve been surfing a bunch and I think when you put [a lot of] time in your work, of course you’re going to get better. I’ve been working so much and I’ve been enjoying the process,” he said.
“Sometimes it’s hard to understand the injuries and stuff, but then life is how it should be. You’ve got to accept every moment of your life and enjoy the process. There’s always a reason, so I’m happy to be where I am right now.”
Medina joked that opening the CT with three events at right-hand breaks in Australia, he had been starting to feel it in his back, but suggested having a left-hand break that was a performance wave rather than a consistent barrel would be a different challenge for the field.
“I feel like we have more opportunities because you can create more when you surf frontside. I’m just happy and I’m excited to express myself really, and yeah, just excited to start.”
When the competition does get underway, local wildcards Billy Stairmand (Raglan) and Tom Butland (Taranaki) will get their chance in the opening round of the men’s draw, while Alani Morse (Raglan) will surf in the women’s draw.
With a change in format this season, surfers who lose in round one are eliminated, so there is no room to warm into the competition.
Stairmand has been drawn against Australian Morgan Cibilic, currently No 29 on the CT standings, with Butland against South African Luke Thompson (No 32). Morse has been drawn against Hawaiian Bettylou Sakura Johnson (No 12) in her opening heat.
Medina gets a bye into round two, where he will meet the winner of the heat between Hawaiian Eli Hanneman and Australian Oscar Berry.
Christopher Reive joined the Herald sports team in 2017, bringing the same versatility to his coverage as he does to his sports viewing habits.