“Seen random backpackers who can’t even do a roundy
show up in Mex and charge harder than him.”
Back in 2015, teenager Filipe Toledo rattled the windows of
every surfer on tour when he easily despatched Julian Wilson in
the final of the Quiksilver Pro, which was held in two-foot waves
at Snapper Rocks.
Filipe Toledo, who was nineteen, rammed a javelin into his
opponent Julian Wilson, then twenty-six, by scoring two nines in
quick succession before sealing the event, and his first-ever WCT
win, with a deserved ten-pointer.
Total heat score, a near-perfect 19.60 to Wilson’s 14.70.
Since then, Toledo has won back-to-back world
titles, both in two foot waves at Lower Trestles, but has
publicly struggled in waves breaking
over reef and exceeding six feet.
In an Instagram post, the WSL celebrated the almost-ten year
anniversary of Toledo’s first-ever tour win, running video of his
waves along with the says-it-all caption, “Inspiring.”
Less inspiring was the response from hardened surf fans who were
quick to point out the asterisks next to Toledo’s world title
wins.
small wave world champion…. Has anyone seen a photo of
Feleepe riding a wave over 8ft Hawaiian.
Has the personality and heart of a world champ. But he needs
to trust his skills in big hollow waves. Medina and JJF are light
years ahead of him. A world champ has to be the best in every
condition…’
Flippy Toledo . Chopes etc we will see let’s all do the
shoulder hop
The small wave champ!
Unbeatable when it’s tiny.♂️
unwinnable when it’s heaving
Now show his first Teahupoo comp footage
Top 99.99999% in 2-3 ft waves but not even in the top 2000
in waves of consequence. Seen random backpackers who can’t even do
a roundy show up in Mex and charge harder than him. Let’s face it
the guy wouldn’t have ever been a champ in the old format.
Question: let’s say you’re Filipe Toledo, or in the Toledo camp.
Do you pretend the reputation for flaking at Teahupoo or Pipe
doesn’t exist or do you confront it or studiously do everything you
can to stop your boy being presented with the decision, to go or
pull back?
More importantly, does history matter? Is legacy even a thing?
Anyone under twenty know who Andy Irons is? Joel Parko?
