"I honestly think that WSL is making an effort to end the Brazilian storm."
The man they call the Gandhi of surfing for his profoundly simple approach to life, Mr Griffin Colapinto, is under fire tonight by surf fans who believe sinister, likely racist, forces conspired to remove small-wave wizard Filipe Toledo from the Lexus Trestles Pro.
With seconds to go in the pair’s round of 16 heat, San Clemente born-and-raised Griffin, scored an 8.93 to beat Filipe Toledo in a wonderful nail-biter, 16.83 to 16.30.
Even to the jaundiced eye, Griff’s surfing and his dreamy Biolos’ were clearly superior to the Sharp Eye-riding Toledo.
Following the WSL’s Instagram post of Griffin’s heat-winning wave, however, Brazilian fans, and even a few crackers, were apoplectic.
View this post on Instagram
I honestly think that WSL is making an effort to end the Brazilian storm.
Who scored this? A drugged up 12yr old san clemente kid??
That wave was great, but he did not beat Toledo. This is getting ridiculous. (no I’m not Brazilian. I live near Griffin and like both surfers.)
I rarely disagree with the judging, but this is obviously over scored. Love Griff’s surf and style and hate to go along with the massive cry from my brazilian mates, but I really can’t see that score in this wave.
Reading through the comments, I thought it was the usual fan whining… so I went on to watch the heat recap, and I was amazed to see that Toledo scores were heavily hindered. Griffin surfed amazing, but Filipe was in another level. It must be very hard to any pro athlete to overcome such injustice! This really undermines WSL credibility. So frustrating it must be for Felipe and all professionals… too bad for all of us surf fans who love watching competitive surf
Let’s be honest, you’re a great athlete, but we all know that score was completely unfair. It wasn’t your fault, and the joy of advancing in the competition is real, but you shouldn’t have celebrated the way you did. That doesn’t help the sport evolve technically—at best, it encourages poor management
That wasn’t best wave of the heat. How is felipe’s full rotation an 8.3, 0.63 beneath? Also, Felipe’s 8.00; 2 searing carves with a crazy reverse so so late on a difficult section, no downtime between moves, perfect flow. I think the judges struggle to be subjective and have different expections for different surfers. If Griff had done that big full rotation, can guarantee it would’ve been scored way higher than 8.3. If Felipe had Griff’s end wave, it would’ve been a 7.5. No I’m not Brasilian, from NZ. Also I reckon Similar thing happened to Italo, he won his heat.. Epic surfing but wrong person advanced, No way an 8.93. Can I have a job judging plz
The piece de resistance, as they say in the Republic, came from Luke Cederman, star of BeachGrit’s time travel comedy, Once Upon a Time in New Zealand.
I think the saddest part about this, is it has really highlighted how many professional judges are unemployed at the moment and have to share their opinions from their social media accounts.
Colapinto, say you know, ain’t no stranger to the heat of Brazilian surf fans. Following his win over Filipe Toledo in El Salvador, chaos was promised on the sands of Saquarema if he dared show his face.
Read, Brazilian surf fans apoplectic following Californian Griffin Colapinto’s “shock” win over world title favourite Filipe Toledo, “World Shame League! This event was a joke!” and Latin surf fans vow to create chaos at next World Tour event in Brazil following Filipe Toledos controversial loss to Californian in El Salvador, “The biggest protest in history in Saquarema! Bring banners, balloons, planes, boo all the time! Make them leave due to emotional stress!”)
Happened again at the Surf Ranch, somewhere else and now, here, Lowers.
Griffin Colapinato’s response then, you’ll remember, was pure Gandhi.
“We are all human beings! We are all one. Each person seems to have something difficult that is happening in their life. Some times lashing out on others can stem from something deeper that we have no idea about. Raise your hand if you are guilty ️ I know I have been before. And that’s okay, we are humans that have been born into a world run by the overthinking mind and the feeling of separation. But deep down there is a love that understands we are all one. I understand that there are different cultures but in the end we all feel pain and we all feel love. There are so many different perspectives and points of view out there. Who’s to say who’s right and who’s wrong. We grow up in different circumstances that shape our perspectives. Life really doesn’t make sense sometimes, but surely it’s more fun that way. Because now we have the unexpected. The element of surprise. There seems to be some growing pains in our surf community right now. But guess what? We are growing! Much love to everyone that is passionate about the sport of surfing. Without the passion, there would be no growth.”
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My read on Flippy’s demeanor after the heat is that he is now resigned to the fact that the judges are going to burn him and he’s just done with it. My prediction is that he hangs up the WSL jersey for good really soon. No HamSammish for the World Shame League.
Don’t cry for me Argentina
Does it count as a simple approach to life if you are maximizing your available resources?
Could have gone either way, credit Felipe for the golf clap, earned a lot of respect for that.
Felt the same way. There is judging criteria for scoring but there is still subjectivity to be considered, no matter how small of a role it might play in an individuals scoring a ride. I did, I will admit, ever so slightly, arch an eyebrow when I saw GC’s the buzzer beater score posted but, after 2 more reviews of the heat, I can easily see how it could have gone either way and it was ( barely ) won by 10th’s of points. All that aside, major kudos to Felipe for the hand clap reco for Griff. Win humbly, lose gracefully and can’t wait til these two face off again – hopefully much sooner that later. Thank for the show boys, that was just fucken’ A-mazing !
My speaker was quite close to full volume when I clicked play. Torpel’s “So Cal” good vibration voice full tilt coming out the damn box. Spilt my coffee scrambling like a crack head searching for a lighter, in my case the mouse. Clicking all over the screen till I got a spark. Sorry Joe your voice is just to much..
Just watched it back – Toledo was robbed!
His inside right under priority was ridden to perfection..
How can there be a round of 32 for the Final 5? When do people get cut? Wish Brazil was on already. Haven’t watched a single heat. Go Kelly! It’s the morning of the final…
“I thought it was the morning of the quarter finals…”
Star Trunks!
“Griffen saving toeldo from cloudbreak” should be the title of this story
A Brazilian storm in a teacup!
If I had a dollar for every time Turd pill said “ nice clean rails” in this event
Gandhi, also a fan of younger girls.
And boys I think. Maybe the occasional monkey.
Phil beat Julian with a similar wave at Burleigh but that was obviously fine by the Zillas
Now Now he won fair and square with that tube to ally whatever the fuck and landing through the pitch
Brazilians try not to cry constantly challenge: IMPOSSIBLE
“honestly think that WSL is making an effort to end the Brazilian storm.“
Well, you must admit—Brazilians always winning isn’t the best marketing for the Wsl.
Are you saying heat winners are predetermined as to fit best marketing practices?
If true, would that surprise you?
Brasileiros have won the FIFA World Cup 5 times – not exactly bad marketing for football, by far the world’s most popular sport.
Maybe you don’t like Brasilians – just saying.
No, I actually like it when Brazilians win.
Because it seems to humble or get the Aussies and yanks POed….
nice!
It doesn’t matter if Griffy won or not.
What matters is that we got to see him dancing with his girlfriend and her classmates after the heat…
Nothing cringier than a 2% celebration.
Filips chest thumping schtick is fuken annoying. His boards are way too small, yes he is fast and his torque, specially on his forehand, is impressive. But I reckon he looks like a kid surfing when compared to a Griff or Ewing. Think thats why he lost to the Mexican dude a couple events ago.
It’s not “racism” if both persons are the same ethnicity –
It is called “Xenophobia” if the nationality or culture is discriminated against –
“Xenophobia and racism are similar as both have roots in discrimination, however xenophobia usually refers to a person’s nationality and culture rather than exclusively their race or ethnicity”
Learn how to speakee Inggiris – thanks!
If only every heat could be so well surfed that it really comes down to who got the best wave. Filipe should be proud of his surfing today regardless of the outcome. Great surfing. I might go watch it again for a victory lap.
Absolutely Griff. Sick of these rotators getting so much press and over scored, especially after they’ve thrown multitudes of them. Jacks 180 air reverse was maybe the sickest air of the comp. Griff surfed that wave the way Lowers is meant to be surfed and rewarded for it. Plain and simple.