when a heat starts, there is no priority. Gabriel is usually the one hassling his competitors from start to finish and that’s how he breaks their confidence. but yesterday, Gabriel chose the wrong kid. Seth doesn’t back down to anyone! so when they were paddling for the first wave, Seth paddled right on Gabriel’s back! 
this should have been an interference. if you block a surfer from catching a wave, it should be an interference. but since it’s the World Champ, sometimes rules are different. 
Gabriel ended up getting sucked over the falls on that wave. and from that time on, i could tell he was rattled. 
and when you break someones confidence, you break their game plan. who looks like the confident one here? 
Seth didn’t surf a perfect heat, but he did enough to get the win. the biggest win in his life by far! Gabriel is out of the contest and Seth is moving on to the quarterfinals! 
i think Gabriel is one of the most fierce competitors in the world. he’s going to take this loss and become stronger from it. that’s a scary thought. but until then, Seth just stole all his confidence and i hope he takes it all the way to the finals!
