>>43877996If I had to choose my rank, I'd be the 7th or last gym leader.
You'd have to travel to an island to continue the story but you'd need Surf to get to it.
You go to the Pirate Town and hear that the gym leader here gives the Surf TM and is in a ship.
You go to the ship and talk to the captain but it sails away so you'll have to help and battle the crew during the trip.
When you have helped everyone and battled them, you'll finally be able to fight the Gym Leader.