The sad story of an unwanted stepchild.
Oh to be Felipe Toledo, the world at your feet, the world on a string. Coral, his main enemy, is rapidly dying everywhere due global warming, the World Surf League, where he competes, has pivoted almost entirely to small waves, the 2022 Championship Trophy already sits above hearth and space has been pre-cleared for the 2023 one which is almost assuredly his.
The cherry on top?
That hearth is in San Clemente, California, the selfsame hosting last “Finals Day” and this one too.
Huzzah!
Filipe and his entire family moved from Ubatuba, in beautiful Brazil, to the Spanish Village by the Sea in 2014, nearly one whole decade ago. Basically a lifetime when it comes to rootless Southern Californians. By right, Toledo should be honored, celebrated, feted at Nick’s and South of Nick’s nightly but… no and emphatically no.
He is not and, moreover, his interloper status is rudely rubbed in his lightly puggish nose.
I had to drive north, very much too early this morning and very much too far. While passing through the Town That Andino Built I saw giant red banners stretching over the first 5 freeway pedestrian overpass, closest to Lowers. Being where I was, I assumed they read “Trump Won!” but as I got closer, Trump’s face somehow seemed more… squishy.
Closer still, I realized it was current world number two Griffin Colapinto’s face with the words “Griff for World Champ!” emblazoned.
Bold.
I assumed the next overpass, though not closest to Lowers, would be a giant green banner, li’l lion front and center, reading, “Paddle Pip!”
But no.
And no on the next and next and none even when I entered San Juan Capistrano like a tired swallow.
But there has to be one brave San Clemente local who can break with the mob and cheer his or her neighbor.
Raise your hand, please.
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https://www.inherentbummer….
I heard rumors of Kai Lenny flying down to surf some “outer shoal”.
re: the only left recorded in my Bay. 2010
https://scontent-sjc3-1.xx….
Who will tell Chas that Nicks and South of Nicks is in Laguna Beach and they have a quota on San Clemente patrons as the cougars who hang there prefer pretty men, not the typical men residing in San Clemente.
We went to the bowl with my cousin and his wife last year. They bought the tickets. Think it was NIN. They obviously chose the best tickets for themselves near the center. We were off to the side. I was kinda bummed till I saw who was going to sit in front of me. Two Onlyfan models in leather G strings body suits with fishnet stockings. They were jumping up and down the whole show getting content. The show was expensive but that dulled the pain.
I have a new hypothesis: spent last night in the loudest outdoor stadium on earth (per Guinness) w/ 70,000 fans losing their minds. It was great, although doubt anyone would describe it as soulful. Don’t we need those kinds of places, plus the kind of plastic artificiality of a modern San Clemente, to help us truly appreciate the soulful places that are left?? And can we appreciate them for what they are, w/out worrying about what they could or should be, or at one time were??
**Or should I maybe not have written this post w/out first drinking some more coffee and cleaning out my system from the past 24 hours??
it was soulful – collective mind-losing in a positive fashion) always is
Good point.
I guess u missed where there is more active growing coral today covering the great barrier reef than in 36 years. Try agian… use another incorrect fact to point us towards all electric bliss while u choke on another cancer stick. You earth saver!
not that it was representative (and I do really like Joao), and I only caught a few minutes of it, but did not think his warm up clips were up to the level of Griff and Robbo or even Ewing. Maybe he was just holding back.
Just like my Pa I also like to see a good game, I still remember him being enthralled at Tendulka coming into his element. Xox
Hey now, Rodman gave back to Newport—gave all kinds STDs
The gift that keeps on giving.
Trumps surfs big barrels… just ask him…
(Trump voice) “ no one does barrels better than me, I do the biggest barrels. I’m #1 when it comes to barrels.
I made a comment once on the stab Instagram about Filipe being cowardly at teahupoo and other heavy waves and got absolutely attacked by filipes brothers wife. It was actually a pretty incredible back and forth. I wonder which of the wild cats she has tattooed on her chest.
a dancer from Cats musical
https://uploads.disquscdn.c… Cover shot reminded me of this comedic gold from Beef & Beer…
let’s shutdown the whole State beach for 4 or five surfers. and five women? blashemy~
oyster shoot her? out…
If Felipe doesn’t win it was fixed.
“Coral, his main enemy, is rapidly dying everywhere due global warming”
i lold
I’m not keen on those trophies. Tiled surfboards…
lame.
They look like a mom ordered them from a college art student on Etsy to say ‘Happy 11th Birthday z!’ z = surfy names like Brodie, Curren, Merrick, Slater, Ozzy, Miki, …
You’re not wrong, but it wasn’t always that way. And there are still pockets of the genuine and the worth while down there if you know where to look.
There was this surfer from San Clemente awhile back, I think his name was Matt Arch-something…
I have on good information that Pip has never tried to become part of the community down in SC. He just lives there and surfs there. And it’s not as if the community didn’t want him there, was actively hostile to him, or wasn’t welcoming. He’s never taken a single grom under his wing (he just burns groms). He doesn’t show up for any community events or do anything to try to support local businesses. He’s reaped all the benefits of living there without ever really trying to give back. The place is a means to an end for him, and he’ll leave it behind once he’s done with it. So the fact that the town is backing Griff without any mention of Pip shouldn’t come as any surprise.
Not to mention the rest of the fifteen family members.
His younger brother Davi is cool. I wouldn’t necessarily attribute any of the above-referenced observations to the rest of Pip’s family outside of his father
I saw him once at the San Clemente Outlets. He was cool. He parked a macked out Sprinter van in a handicapped spot and seemed to buy about $5K in Tommy Hilfiger gear. When the security guard came over to tell him to move out of the parking spot he pretended not to speak english. I thought it was well played on his part. Very Dora-esque.
Needs to dress in a tux, walk backwards through the entrance and steal an oscar, all while doing a mick fanning vs chas impersonation.
Give back? To San Clemente?
It has largely become a wretched place, but there are still business owners and early home owners and other good folk mostly west of the 5.
swallows…and shit~
You know, Those poor san clemente kids with their electric bikes and custom surfboards living in their million dollar homes.
Pip pays his taxes (I hope), but it still ain’t enough…
And he never thanked JT for those winning “dark arts” boards…
In fact, JT has never even met or talked to pip.
I agreed. FILIPE IS BRAZILIAN WORKING IN US. NO PASSION….JUST TRUE AS AMERICANS LIKE. I AM JUST SAD BECAUSE FILIPE IS NOT HELP IS TRUE NEEDED COMMUNITY IN UBATUBA, BRASIL. THERE IS THE REAL DEAL….LET’S SEE IFF HE CHANGES HIS MIND…AS ITALO AND GABRIEL DO.
vai, irmao! fala! fala!
Mr. Turren your poem made my day. I even played it for my wife, my 7 year old son heard us laughing he got a chuckle as well. He of course went to Green Eggs & Ham and that made us laugh harder. Thank you for your creativity.