Medina Takes it to Hawaii

BEST TIL LAST: Gabriel Medina jumps to #2 in the rankings over Jordy Smith. Photo WSL / Masurel

Supertubos in Peniche always has played a crucial role in deciding how the world title pans out. Certainly as the penultimate event on the WSL Championship Tour, it should.

It could even have been a repeat of last year, when John John Florence (HAW) actually won the title here, with the Billabong Pipeline Masters result rendered moot. This time, Florence's rampaging run towards the inevitable came to an abrupt halt at the hands of Kolohe Andino (US), who beat Florence in the quarters.

It's all down to HawaiiWith our boy Jordy Smith out in Round 3, Florence would have won the world title had he won, and Medina hadn't make the final. Well, Medina won, and Wilson makes a huge leap forward from sixth to fourth in the rankings. It's all down to Hawaii, with the rankings sitting like this: 1. Florence (53,350), 1. Medina (50,240), 3. Smith (47,600) and 4. Wilson (45,200).

Mathematically, the odds are on one of these four to win, but you have to assume it's going to be one of the top two, with odds on the current #1. However, if Jordy wins in Hawaii, and the other two fail badly (while the other one fails moderately badly), the big Saffa could take his first world title.

Here's what has to happen:

• If JJ out in semis (3rd) or quarters (5th), Medina needs 1st to win title
• If JJ out in Rd 5 (9), Medina needs 2nd, Smith needs 1st to win title
• If JJ out in Rd 3 (13) or Rd 2 (25), Medina needs 5th, Smith needs 2nd or Wilson 1st

{gallery}SLIDESHOW/2017/october/meo-portugal-finals{/gallery}