Freshly un-retired world champ Filipe Toledo now meets John John Florence in do-or-die round three match up!

The ISA Games continues to deliver surprise after surprise as a melting pot of surfers from all over the globe clash swords with the sport’s greats, including Gabriel Medina, John John Florence and reigning world champ Filipe Toledo. 

Filipe Toledo, that small-wave wizard with the neat little belly, made a triumphant return to competition in the small Caribbean waves, two weeks after calling it quits on the pro tour after the terror of surfing Pipe gave him food poisoning. 

It wasn’t all smooth sailing for the almost thirty-year-old father of two who relocated from the small waves of Ubatuba, Brazil, to the even smaller waves of San Clemente, California, in 2014. 

After nearly falling to Chilean Manuel Salman and Venezuelan Keoni Lasa in round one, Filipe Toledo barely scraped past Canadian Cody Young and Argentinian Jose Gundesen in round two, winning by less than one point. 

Filipe Toledo now faces another two-time world champ John John Florence in round three, along with the aforementioned Chilean Manuel Salman and underground Puerto Rican shredder Brian Toth. 

John John Florence, whose semi-final heat against Kelly Slater at Teahupoo in 2014, is regarded as the best pro surfing heat ever, is the favourite to win Olympic gold, although Filipe Toledo’s million-to-one odds are lightly attractive to high-risk gamblers.

The contest runs through seven rounds and twelve repechage heats although it usually loses its big names, Medina and co, long before the final as mysterious sickness strikes the superstars, who are obligated to compete in the ISA Games.

In 2023, Medina, Carissa Moore, Griff Colapinto, Jordy Smith and Caroline Marks all withdrew after surfing several heats, poor food preparation and mysteries viruses the cause.

A little more on the line this year, howevs. Whatever team wins the overall crown gets an extra ticket to the Olympics, which is being held at Teahupoo or The Skull Cave. 

For Brazil, this means former Teahupoo winner Gabriel Medina will complete a powerful lineup which includes Filipe Toledo, who once got third at the Teahupoo contest, and Joao Chianca whose big-wave bona fides need no further confirmation. 

Toledo's one-year hiatus from competitive surfing temporarily on hold as world champ and small-wave wizard hunts ISA gold!

Surf fans have been gifted the second coming of world champion Filipe Toledo at the ISA Games, a feeder contest for the Olympics and which is being held in the US protectorate of Puerto Rico.

Two weeks ago, the same surf fans were in meltdown over Filipe Toledo’s embarrassing fail at the tour opener the Lexus Pipe Pro, the champ managing only a 1.77 heat total in the clean four-to-six-foot waves.

His lesser regarded opponents, meanwhile, jackknifed waves hither and yon. Shion Crawford rode one wave for eight points, Samuel Pupo found an almost-eight and an almost-six.

Filipe Toledo, a small man with a neat little belly, is considered unbeatable in waves three feet and under, the Finals Day location of Lower Trestles a gift for the small-wave wizard, and a unconquerable mountain for John John Florence and Jack Robinson, although Toledo’s big-wave bona fides have long been questioned.

Following his humiliating loss and relegation to the elimination round, Filipe Toledo subsequently withdrew from the event citing food poisoning and, a little later from the tour itself.

A press release from the WSL said Toledo would be taking “a one-year mental health break from competition.”

Well, dang, don’t time fly.

Filipe Toledo, who is the first Brazilian in history to win back-to-back world titles and who has won an astonishing seventeen tour in events, has fought off his demons to win his first heat the ISA Games, held in clean three-foot waves.

It wasn’t an easy win by any measure.

Chilean Manuel Salman, Venezuelan Keoni Lasa and Swede Greyson Grant all came within striking distance of Toledo.

The contest runs through seven rounds and twelve repechage heats although it usually loses its big names, Medina and co, long before the final as mysterious sickness strikes the superstars, who are obligated to compete in the ISA Games.

In 2023, Medina, Carissa Moore, Griff Colapinto, Jordy Smith and Caroline Marks all withdrew after surfing several heats.

However, this year, a rule change means the superstars have to “actually take part in good faith.” And, if you wanna tap out, you gotta submit an ISA medial review or your Paris 2024 slot could be revoked.

Filipe Toledo now moves into the second against an Argentinian, a Canadian and an Ecuadorian.