Filipe Toledo attacks WSL judges in wild post-heat interview

“I don’t know what else do I have to do to get bigger scores. I wish they (judges) can go out there and do the same thing.”

The world’s best surfer in waves two-and-a-half-feet-and-under, Filipe Toledo, has launched an unprecedented attack on the WSL’s judges after easily winning his opening round heat at the El Salvador Pro.

Two-time world champ Filipe Toledo, who turns thirty in a couple of weeks, scored the highest heat total of the round, 15.77, beating Italo Ferreira and Griffin Colapinto for first-day honours.

“With all my three waves I thought I was over eight points,” Filipe Toledo said in his post-heat presser. “Especially on my last wave. The variety, the speed, the air in the middle, the blow tail at the end. So yeah, I don’t know what else do I have to do to get bigger scores. I wish they (judges) can go out there and do the same thing.”

 

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Giving judges hell ain’t new to Filipe Toledo.

Two months ago in Abu Dhabi, Toledo collided with the WSL’s official photographer Thiago Diz on his penultimate wave in his round of 16 heat against Kanoa Igarashi.

Toledo had been having a shocker and the collision, on the meaningless end section, took out a fin. Thiago looked freaked out by the hit and Filipe lit up at everyone, Thiago, the man, judges, injustice etc.

“This display of lack of empathy was shameful, unforgivable sportsmanship,” wrote Matt George.

In 2023, the legendary surf coach Glen ‘Micro’ Hall described Filipe Toledo, Gabriel Medina and Italo Ferreira as having “victim mentality” when they cried over their losses at the Surf Ranch event.

The previous year in El Salvador, Filipe was beaten by the Californian Griffin Colapinto, which resulted in Griff getting “violent, gruesome threats” and Filipe’s daddy Rick wading into the mix claiming, “We really hope that something will be done, and that this will change, as it is becoming unbearable to see and hear the things we are hearing. during the events, I am embarrassed for the others.

The sport’s judging has long been an issue with the Brazilian world champs, Gabriel Medina, Filipe Toledo and Italo Ferreira, a legacy, likely, of the country’s obsession with soccer, a sported noted for its participants to easily dissolve into tears.

In 2017, Filipe Toledo was banned for one event after the pint-sized ball of fury stormed the judging tower, waving his little board at ’em etc.

Filipe is a really good kid and an incredible surfer,” said the WSL’s Renato Hickel. The WSL is very fortunate to have someone of his caliber on Tour and he is constantly progressing the level of surfing in the live arena. It’s disappointing when we have to pass disciplinary action for any of our surfers, but that behavior is not acceptable for the sport.”