A haunting at "the end of the road."
Filipe Toledo is, without doubt, the best small-wave surfer on the globe. There is no wedge or runner three feet or under that the Brazilian flyboy cannot dominate. His lightning fast reflexes, cat-like ability to land on his feet, confidence and flair is unmatched.
Filipe Toledo is also, without doubt, extremely afraid of Teahupo’o.
His round of sixteen heat against local wildcard Mihimana Braye, surfing in his first ever contest, featured the exact same timidity the cowardly lion has displayed in each of his trips to “The End of the Road.”
There he bobbed, holding priority, while Braye paddled, dropped, became barreled and was spat into applause.
There he took off on a small closeout just to hand that priority over and not be forced into actually trying.
There he lost 15.50 to 5.73
It was a shameful display and would be semi-forgiven if Toledo finally, and for the first time, admitted that Teahupo’o terrifies him.
But he doesn’t, the commentators pretend like what they are seeing is real effort and another year will, very likely, end with Toledo hoisting the Championship Trophy at Lower Trestles externally proud but internally haunted.
JP Currie, in his very fine day wrap, declared:
In the same way the wavepool lays bare the talent differential between surfers on the WCT, so too does Teahupo’o. Comparisons and judging are refreshingly straightforward and free of controversy when the criteria is clear: make critical drops on the biggest waves and get barrelled for as long as possible.
The masters of this are Jack Robinson, Gabriel Medina and John Florence. Teahupo’o is their element, and their mastery is unmatched.
The contrast between these three men and the one (Filipe Toledo) sitting atop the rankings is jarring. For the layperson or those new to pro surfing fandom, it would be hard to explain.
And how does Toledo explain? That he’s simply had a decade of bad luck? Why doesn’t he, like Griffin Colapinto and so many others, sink time into Tahiti and come away a conquering hero? It was a challenge laid before the twenty-eight year-old by BeachGrit some eight-ish years ago.
One that is still waiting for him to embrace.
Until then, his almost certain two championships are, unfortunately, illegitimate.
Take your shirt off.
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Pro surfing is one of the softest pro sports – watch any mountain biking or skate video
<https: http://www.youtube.com=”” watch?v=”YFYbDA5beIo&ab_channel=BeachGritbeachgrit” chas=”” toledo=”” ripping=”” it=”” up.=””>
weather channels and surf journalists are going underground and may be designing freeway banners…
this is where we rally…we’re rattled! billboards/
Toledo has never charged any large waves of consequence. A prime example is the Margs contest of a few years back when the 2nd round was held at the Box. I his heat with jack Robocalls( who put on a world class tube clinic) Toledo demonstrated that he had no business being in the lineup. His world titles should be followed by an asteric, referencing that each of those years involved a majority of the events lacking in any serious surf.
girl shitgod bless mauiians. that said, surfed kalapana black sand beach in the early 70s. you know i’m a socal boy so this was my 1st exposure to clean, clear water and a shallow reef. paddling out was heaven. sat, then turned to go on a 2 foot right (yep, backside) stood and looked down to a nearly exposed reef…it was two feet deep. I lunged backward and fell, er jumped off. As for Chopes? not qualified to say anything. But I’m not afraid of keyboards!
I don t understand why god doesn’t help him drop a few at chopes, or pipe, or the Box. I blame god! It’s not Filipe´s fault
Great minds think not like us!!
The Title is decided at Trestles. It is there he will be crowned with his second trophy because no one can match him in 6 foot or less waves. What I don’t inderstand is why he even bothers turning up to Chopes? Is there some WSL rule? And PS, it is unlikely he gives a shit what anyone thinks.
Mr Surf Gonzo doesn’t know how to be cool without making a dick of himself. All he had to do was be polite about it but no, had to heap scorn. Not very classy.
I actually thought the piece was one of Charles’ better efforts. Filipe though probably doesn’t put to much credance the th C Mans opinion though.
Polite about a world champion who is too big a coward to take off on waves that little caity simmers was charging?
It’s extremely pathetic and needs to called out.
That was so embarrassing, that my friends is no world champion.
You don’t have to commit murder to write about it
Monkey’s cano-hando troof.
For example: Bethany Hamilton, a one armed mother of four charges cranking Pipeline, or Cloudbreak. Where is Filipe boy and what is his excuse, again?
Felipe made the semi finals at Teahupoo in 2018.
Leave my little pekenese poodle alone, you mean man!
Thanks gorilla. I’m gonna give it my damndest.
Challenge taken.
But ok here… this is fun! We tried, years ago, to tell Pip’s story in a beautiful way. Derek had a brilliant idea of him conquering Teahupoo. The clip in story is from. Interviews, having him go get training at Teahupoo, getting it all. We got absolutely burned by his people and that is how bridge got burnt. Not from me pointing out obvious.
How is that? I take a regular beating! You ain’t used to it. Rightly. You are good in your game but throwing the old “can’t surf so can’t comment” chestnut is as tired as it is boring. So, re. Pip’s cowardice and more to your point. I hear you. I surf like shit. I’ve also been on a boat in the Tear-a-hoop-o-o channel with a terrified young Kanoa Igarashi who was goaded in to overcoming his fear. He ain’t the greatest out there, granted, but he goes for it. Toledo’s lack of even trying, or admitting that he is terrified and needs to work it out, is a bummer. No?
Mmmmmm. I don’t know about that, to be honest. You can’t take a licking. That speaks.
Consider revoking admin credentials, and unbanning the unfairly judged accounts who actually came here to participate and raise the bar. This one throws major shade to the extent of “your mother chokes on donkey dicks”, then bans the accounts of any cutting, or cunning retorts.
The bottleneck of open discourse, debate, or deep discussion lies with one pretending to be strong, yet a full puka-panty censoring BARNEY in reality.
I bet he also lisps in the real!