Margaret River Pro: American Griffin Colapinto upsets John John Florence to enter final with Gabriel Medina

American Griffin Colapinto has upset Margaret River heavyweight John John Florence to set up a World Surf League final with former world champion Gabriel Medina. Colapinto, who lost to Florence in the semifinals last year at the Margaret River Pro, trailed for the majority of their semifinal match-up on Friday hardly taking a wave in the first 20 minutes before blowing the two-time winner out of the water with 8.50 and 9.00 rides. The 9.00, which clinched Calapinto’s win, came after a misread by Florence saw him give up priority on a throwaway wave with only six minute remaining. The Hawaiian boasts an incredible record at Main Break having won the event twice, finished runner up to local Jack Robinson last year and boasting 44 excellent rides of 8.00 or better in nine visits. But it was Colapinto who had the edge this time, producing two sensational rides of his own. “Crazy, I’m fricking over the moon,” he said. “I’m going to have to find a way to reign it back here because I’m pretty stoked. The start I felt like I was just farming it because I was getting sucked into his whole program. “Halfway through I made three mistakes and then realised, ‘just be me, just do me’. I paddled further out the back where I have been catching most of my waves in the comp and it all just paid off. I was able to chip in early on my waves and get to those first sections a little earlier and really give it a good swoop.” Earlier, Medina upstaged world No.1 Joao Chianca in an all-Brazilian semifinal, punching the air as he finished a 6.00 ride with just 40 seconds remaining to edge out his younger countryman with a 12.00 two-wave total. Chianca (10.67) had lead for much of their semifinal heat despite showing some signs of a knee injury, picked up earlier in his quarterfinal win over Australian Connor O’Leary. But is was Medina who edged back into the contest with a 6.00 wave with eight minutes remaining before going for the knockout finish. The three-time world champion has never previously made it past the quarterfinals in Margaret River and came into the event on the back of four ninth-place finishes to start the season. “It feels good to get that one,” he said. “ I knew I needed a four and I was looking for a two turn wave and it’s kind of tricky out there so it feels good to get the score.” Having struggled historically in Margaret River conditions, Medina said after his quarterfinal win: “I really want to do the finals here and hopefully win. It has been on my find since forever because it’s an event that I have always struggled at. I’ve been doing a lot of work.” The final will take place later today.