Editor’s Note: #SwitchStanceSundays is a brand new weekly series featuring a mirrored image of a surfing clip, showing all your favorite surfers in the opposite stance. The first in the series is Brazil’s fiercest competitor and former world champion, Gabriel Medina.
As a grom, I vividly remember watching the reflection of a left-hand point break through the window of the snack bar that sat atop a hill at my local surf spot. Completely engrossed in the magical mirror, I ogled and fantasized over surfing those perfect rights that poured through the bizarro point. I watched a local goofy-foot legend, Scott Fin, instantly become a regular-footer. I loved the way he surfed, and now I, a regular-footer, could finally relate to his surfing, not to mention the handful of other goofy-foot rippers out there. I watched, analyzed, and took notes on the unique lines Scott drew. That was 10 years ago, and I still do it to this day. The people working inside that snack bar must think I’m a complete lunatic.
Today, Gabriel Medina is far and away one of my favorite surfers on tour. To me, he’s the complete package. The airs, the turns, the barrels, big waves, small waves… you name it and chances are Gabriel can do it. Plus, he’s perhaps more consistent than Stephen Curry from the free throw line. But if I’m being completely honest, watching Gabriel surf with his left foot forward sort of takes away from his surfing. I don’t have the slightest hint as to why this is, but I prefer goofy-foot Gabriel. Without further ado, here are three and a half minutes of Gabriel Medina surfing Lowers as a regular-footer. Question is: Which do you prefer?
Big thanks to Mike Lucas for the footage. Check out more of Mike’s awesome work on his YouTube channel or follow him on Instagram.
