Following the humiliating loss Toledo has subsequently withdrawn from the event citing an unspecified "illness".
The world of professional surfing has gone into meltdown this afternoon after another embarrassing fail by the reigning, and two-time, world champion Filipe Toledo.
Surfing in the opening round of the Lexus Pipe Pro against Shion Crawford and Samuel Pupo, Filipe Toledo looked uncomfortable in the clean four-to-six-foot waves, scoring a 1.77 total (0.5 and 1.27).
His opponents, meanwhile, jackknifed waves hither and yon. Shion rode one wave for eight points, Pupo found an almost-eight and an almost-six.
Filipe Toledo, who’ll turn twenty-nine, in April is considered unbeatable in waves three feet and under, the Finals Day location of Lower Trestles a gift for the small-wave wizard.
Following his humiliating loss and relegation to the elimination round, Filipe Toledo subsequently withdrew from the event citing an unspecified “illness.
Surf fans on the WSL’s own live broadcast were unsparing.
“Why is Toledo always sick when the waves have any type of size?”
“World champ? No mushy surf no win.”
“Toledo conveniently unwell. LOL.”
Memes were quickly assembled.
And so on.
More worryingly, in a little under a year, Brazil is going to field Filipe Toledo as part of its two-man team to the Olympics, the surf event being held at Teahupoo.
No Gabriel, no Italo.
Filipe Toledo, as surf fans are often reminded of, is the only surfer to score a zero-point heat there. A moment in 2015 that was subsequently dubbed “A brave act of cowardice.”
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What if Felipe really did have food poisoning and he was worried about going Pupo in his trunks?
The WSL Commentators were as bad as his surfing, other than Strider. Everyone knows he is scared and they tried to sell it as if he was waiting.
Fark imagine having millions of dollars, multiple world titles, the worlds best water safety and 2 guys out and still not just packing one so we all shut up.
fils a pussy and there is no way to sugar coat it , nobody is going to buy what he is going to be selling and making the wsl format look weak as piss if their champion is a fake
a win for surfing in general
Sharpeyes new pipe model 1.77+
Well even the SMH is treating this story as a front page headline.
https://www.smh.com.au/spor…
It’s all a marketing strategy as Pip prepares to announce his own brand of clothing.
“ Scary Kat”.
It will sell well in Brazil?
Its Scardy ……i think
Sharty
honestly I was bummed to see this. I’ve seen Fil surf bigger and heavier backdoor, so I was pretty shocked he didn’t grab a couple. it looked pretty fun actually.
he’s also a really nice guy so I love to see him do well….
and I really wanted to know what Chas’ favorite recipe for crow is, but that ain’t gonna happen.
I do remember recently a famous surf journalist who was unable to surf due to an “unspecified illness”. and the story did not develop.
whatever it is, I hope he ponies up next time.
still a fan.
Nice comment.
thanks, but honestly I have actually been there in person and watched Fil get as deep as anyone ever on much more serious days…and ripping.
don’t know what happened today. didn’t get a chance to ask him when he got out of the water, but there were quite a few pipe pros wondering what happened, guys who’ve been out there with him when he was charging.
Thanks Happy Camper. It will be interesting to see how he goes representing Brazil at Chopes in the Olympics later this year, particularly if it’s big. I hope he embraces the challenge.
mole mole mole mole *austin powers voice
Strange, that with all of the cameras pointed at Backdoor on the regs, footage of Pip ripping on serious days seems to be as rare as hen’s teeth.
haven’t seen him recently.
trying to think about what year it was. it was during the lead up to the Pipe Masters, but it was a few years after he started on the tour.
but don’t get me wrong. I’m not defending him. yesterday was an embarrassment, and now he has to prove himself.
found this: https://www.worldsurfleague…
Methinks that’s more positive noise from the wsl than Pip actually charging.
you could very well be right about the WSL, and if I had not been camping at my friends beach house there and not seen it with my own eyes, I would completely agree with you.
previously I was completely anti-toledo.
in fact I was at said friends house one day chatting with a soon to be Brazilian world champ when he received a call from Fil informing him that he would not be surfing in his upcoming heat that day. luckily for Fil, WSL called off the competition due to unsafe conditions.
I just watched fils heat, joe turps is talking up fils big wave tuberiding skill
Even when I have him on mute when I read his lips my brain translates in his voice. Its brutal.
There must be a mainstream commercial company who would be the perfect sponsor for Pip.
Anything to do with chicken would work?
chicken in a biscuit
He could start a weight lost gym and call it-
GUTLESS
He could change his name to Clyde Torkel.
thoughts and prayers…….
Is this tactic of blatantly showing us he has no balls just a way of getting a new Rip Curl contract?
oh that is very good
Clever as fuckkkk!
Brilliant!
He’s obviously been spending way too much time with Neymar
Has Filipe not noticed the masses of helmets out at pipe now. You just put one on and then you can bounce of the reef no problem.
Imagine Dreading making the Olympics! Ohh, Hi Felipe!!!…more as the story develops….
Surely now he’ll perform Seppuku ? I know he isnt Japanese but really what choice does he have? He’ll never walk with his head held ever again. Its time Flip, Seppuku, save face, do it live and appologise to your fans first.
Well I was completely wrong saying he might prove us wrong.
I can’t believe I defended his Sunset win on another post and then he goes and does me dirty like this.
How would a sports psychologist advise Filipe? Would they say it’s OK to have fear and this is normal for someone at your level of expertise. Try to create a mental wall to ward off the negative feedback and poor performance of a world champion who has to look themselves in the mirror. Or would they mentally build him up and try to conquer his fear.
If I was Felipe’s psychologist (which I’m not because he simply cannot afford me), I’d have him call E-Lo before each round. Have the man who christened him as the king of the jungle revitalize his spirits before waging war at Pipe.
Ok pip, step 1: take your shirt off. Step 2…
I think he has to start surfing waves with critical takeoffs. It’s throwing himself over the edge that will get him used to pipe and Teahupoo. He doesn’t have to go full Todd Holland and take off on unmakeable waves, just start out on head high waves and progress.
that’s the thing, he does surf waves with critical takeoffs and I have personally seen him, in person, ripping bigger and heavier backdoor.
this was actually perfect backdoor conditions of him.
sompin, sompin, I dunno?
Is there any footage of Felipe in big Indo lefts? I think not.
Exactly. It’s maddening that he doesn’t spend the off season hunting heavier waves, getting over his fear.
Happy, you keep saying this but if that’s true why wouldn’t Felipe’s own camp be incentivized to leak the footage in the name of silencing critics? Bigger and heavier than yesterday? That easily leaks onto instagram by the many cameras or Felipe himself.
can we use a crate of glue sticks & post-its? ask the supplier/
Are we gettin any curry?