"He's gotta be able to get over (that fear)," says the WSL's Peter Mel.
The second-generation pro surfer Filipe Toledo has harnessed an insistent animal vitality to win his second consecutive world title in lightly wind scarred three-foot waves at San Clemente’s Lower Trestles.
Toledo, who is twenty nine and the son of Brazilian champ Ricardo, came into the one-day winner-take-all event rated number one and only needed two of a possible three heats to beat Australian Ethan Ewing, whose comeback from a back injury has been well documented.
“It’s a miracle this man is even competing,” said beach announcer Chris Cote as Ewing mowed through Joao Chianca and Griffin Colapinto.
Surfing rigorous but free, wild but as exact as a knife, Toledo used all the usual paralysing tricks of eye-fooling to dispense with Ewing, not easily, the ravenously aggressive blond with the overwhelming ass ain’t an easy beat, but it was clear.
The best surfer in waves of non-consequence? Filipe Toledo.
There is a caveat. An asterisk.
Tahiti.
As Chas wrote last week,
How do you solve a problem like Filipe?
His terror is completely obvious, and reasonable for any mere mortal, but not for Ubatuba’s first son. Toledo has super human reflexes and ability. God-gifted talent above and beyond plus resources to hone and maximize. He could swing on any gaping beast and, though sheer capability, navigate. That he has refused to grow the heart, to this point, to spend time and money, gin up confidence, learn is a mark directly against him.
Even the Wall of Poz Noise is starting to crack.
“He’s gotta be able to get over that,” said Peter Mel.
JP Currie’s Finals Day analysis arriving shortly and, likely, a work of beauty from Jen See about the gals (Caz Marx’s not unsurprising win etc)!
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* Phil Toledo: The Lower Trestles World Champ.
Show me how you operate at a $30 million loss without actually telling me.
Hedge had a 9.43 and couldn’t get another bomb… he way outclassed the “world champ” who embarrassed himself earlier with KS and Hog. That was the heaviest wave pip has ever caught in his life… for a world champ and someone who has only competed/traveled/ surfed his entire life …. BFD… what burn? Hedgy still out surfed him!
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MCCaunahey says: “Break on thru to the other side, ying.” yesterday was a bunch of yangkers!
how was uppers?
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Beach grit sucks almost as much as the wsl ! Fuck both of them.
Olimpics are as wokecas the wsl. So be prepared for bad judgingvthere as well
Ten years from now I will still be watching videos of former hardcore world champions Tom Carroll and Andy Irons. No Filipe, then or now.
Dunno
Asterisk world titles. Feel free to add more.
1976 – Included results from comps held before there was even a pro tour.
1983/4 – ASP Hawaii boycott, Dane stooged.
1987/8 – Dooma get Kong on unsportsmanlike (but legal) interference.
1988 – Shortened season, Barton only wins due to TC stupidly dropping in on Todd Holland at pipe.
1993 – We’re not allowed to talk about this incident, are we.
1999 – Slater on sabbatical – does it really count?
2000 – Slater on sabbatical – does it really count?
2001 – Shortened season due to September 11.
2012 – Question marks about the Pipe final.
2015 – The shark incident sees Fanning get stooged for points in that event and lose the title.
2023 – Because Chas and Derek say so.
Plus there’s at least two of Slater’s wins that have question marks over them but I can’t recall which year. One of the was early (94 or 95 I think), and one of them in the 2000s post-Andy.
And you can pretty much put asterisks against all the IPS world titles except for 1964 and 1966.
T*rix
Pips surfing in waves like this is pretty cool what he can do, but for me when put alongside someone like EE who’s carves and gouges have so much power, move so much water and just decimate the wave it all seems a little weak and skittish bouncing on the face. Kinda felt the same way with Carissa’s turns vs how much power Marks was smashing
Phil’s victory is a win for chunky wimps everywhere. I’m here for it.
Undeniably the best surfer in the current format. Certainly the best in under double over head surf. Next year, there will not be a grand finale at the softest wave on earth. That will change things. And the WSL has been skunked for surf in recent times – but probability would dictate the Toledo’s luck can’t last. See how things change for the ranking when the players are faced with 10 foot G Land and J bay and bigger still Chopes. Add to that proper sized Bells and West Oz and maybe Filipe will not be so dominant.
sez me: There is minimal intrigue with only 5 finalists competing. Flip that bitch and have EVERYONE compete in the final contest whether it be at Lower’s or Pipe and actually make it a 1.5 points to really shake it up for the Title and the next year’s seeding.
Yeah I’m for this, plus some heavy seeding to give advantage to the top 4/8 surfers maybe?
Yes….for that in addition✅Top 5 seeds start round 3.
Sure Felipe’s had crappy heats at Chopes but he had a 14.83 heat total against Hedge’s 15.76 in the elimination round in 2022. Those waves were no joke. https://uploads.disquscdn.c…
First contest I have missed in over 50 years, Rugby World Cup much more interesting
Well if you missed it how would you know?
Listened to mates, you got any?
Smackdown!
Ouch!! The burn!
That was a Trump level burn
What did you think of that comp in vietnam that simon law won?
waves were pumping and there was a whore house next door to the hotel – $3 handys all around!!
Hi Sarge!
Aqui no Brasil chamamos comentários como os dessa coluna de “Baba ovo”!
Chupa que é de uva!!!
boa noite irmao
felipe e campeoa, mas ele no vai no Teahupoo
e um problema pequeno para a maioria, isso a todo. ele e californiano agora, entao chupe
eu te beijo, agora voce vai. e vai brasil e california e Felipe
Uh oh, drunk frenchman trying to speak spanish has just entered the chat!
Fell asleep and had to watch the wsl finals replay… cunts can’t even get that right with the scores up before the waves are finished
Who runs the production?
Wsl couldn’t organise a root in a whorehouse
but WSL has fluffers aplenty…in the booth, in production, in the corp…but the PR dept takes the pie in face!