Filipe Toledo, two-time reigning world champ of surfing, made a surprise announcement at the start of the 2024 World Surf League Championship Tour season.
After a shaky start at Pipeline, he withdrew from competition; first from the opening event of the year, the Lexus Pipe Pro, then from the entire year all together.
The internet went wild. Keyboard warriors hurled claims of Filipe’s fear in surfing big waves as the reason for his withdrawal. Filipe is, quite often, considered the best surfer in the world in small waves. In bigger surf, not so much. Hence the claims.
For Toledo’s part, he cited mental health for his pro surfing hiatus. He needed a break from the Championship Tour, some time at home, time with his family. Pretty valid for someone who has spent the last 11 years on the road, chasing world titles on Tour.
Well, during the Hurley Pro Sunset, an event which Toledo won last season, he hopped on the broadcast to discuss his decision to temporarily depart from competition.
“I feel great,” he said. “I feel super happy. Of course, it was a hard decision for me. It took me a few days to realize that this is actually happening. I was just giving priority to myself. I don’t want to [withdraw from competition], but I need to. It’s hard for me to live this – to not surf, not compete. But I know I need the break. I need to reset. I need one year to be pressure free, be at home with the kids, and go on surf trips.”
Related: Breaking News: Filipe Toledo Withdraws from 2024 Championship Tour
Then, WSL commentator Joe Turpel, brought up the big wave thing. Turpel queried:
“When you look at Pipeline and Tahiti, those are the events that have challenged you. Is that still a fair statement? If so, are you planning on working on those events?”
To which, Toledo responded:
“I feel like everyone has their strong points, and their weak points. That’s something that I’ve been trying to work on the last couple of years, and put in the work. This year, I’m definitely going to have opportunities to go to places like that. Come back to Hawaii, go to Tahiti, go surf some other waves that I’ve never been. I’m gonna put in the time, and get better, and focus on improving.”
Picture this: macking Teahupo’o come the Paris 2024 Olympics; Filipe, with a handful of practice sessions under his belt, comes out and charges; he wins the gold.
That would shut the haters up.
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