“I would say that Gabriel is more interested in his boards and giving a lot more feedback than ever before. Because I was so close to his dad Charlie, most of the conversation was with him. Now Gabriel doesn’t have that filter and he makes the decisions about equipment. So now we are in weekly contact and that has improved our relationship. Hopefully this will lead to even better boards.”

This is how the World Surf League began an interview with Gabriel Medina's longtime shaper, Johnny Cabianca.

In addition to highlighting Carlao's striking departure from the life of the two-time world champion as something supposedly positive, the shaper highlighted Medina's knowledge of pool waves because he has been surfing them since he was 16 near his home (at the Wavegarden facilities in the Basque Country) and that you can't stray too far from the pocket.

Regarding the quiver for the Surf Ranch, the shaper says they have worked on epoxy boards “a lot.” “Gabriel likes the Epoxy on the Medina model and thinks they will be good for lefts,” Cabianca said.

In reference to this, he pointed out that for the right, which is stronger, he will use the DFK model that requires higher performance and on the left, which is more reclined, he will use the Epoxy.

As for dimensions, Medina will use five Medina models: 5'10" x 19 3/8" x 2 3/8" of 29,1 liters.

And the DFKs are 5'11" x 19" x 2 7/16" with 28,5 liters of volume.

All with round tail.

An important detail is that Medina is using Future Fins with the John John model “and they liked it”.

“We hope that she achieves another victory and that she goes to the Olympic Games in high spirits,” the shaper concluded in the interview.