Filipe Toledo Withdraws From The 2024 Championship Tour
Just over a week after Filipe Toldeo withdrew from the Pipe Pro citing food poisoning, he's now issued a statement that he's withdrawing from the remainder of the 2024 season. The two-time and current World Champion, made no clear indication why he's stepping away this year though alluded to mental health issues.
The WSL has already granted him a wildcard for the 2025 season. Replacement wildcard Ramzi Boukhiam will now be granted a start, at least up until the mid-year cut.
The news also comes shortly after Carissa Moore and Steph Gilmore announced temporary retirements. So that's fifteen world titles on the sidelines.
We're unsure what this means for the Olympics - Toledo qualified for the Brazilian team to surf at Teahupoo in July (EDIT: He's going to surf in the Olympics, "going for gold" in fact, according to an Instagram story spoken in Portuguese)
Toledo's full statement is as follows:
"It is with a heavy heart that I announce today that I am withdrawing for the remainder of the 2024 Championship Tour season. This decision has been so hard for me to make, and it comes after days of discussion with those closest to me. The WSL has been very supportive, and I am very grateful that they have granted me the wildcard for the start of the 2025 season. I am committed to coming back better than ever.
"In the past, I have been honest about some of my challenges not only with injuries, but also with mental health. Competing at the highest level for the past decade has taken a toll on me, and I need a break to recover for the next chapter of my career.
"The platform of the CT has given me everything - it is a dream life that has allowed me to support my family in ways I could never imagine and have incredible experiences. I love this. I live for this. I have so much respect for my fellow competitors, both the men and the women on tour. You guys are amazing.
"I have so much passion for the sport, but I need some time off to fully recover so I can come back stronger than ever. I appreciate the support and loyalty of my family, friends, sponsors, and the WSL. I hope my fans around the world understand this decision and will stick with me when I return to the tour next year. I wish my fellow competitors a great CT season ahead. I will be watching!"
Comments
Wow. What a start to the year.
I will pray our father in heaven ( the ultimate surfer in heaven ) will bless you Toledo
Hope he is ok and comes back in 2025 and charges.
I've been guilty of being critical of his hesitation in heavy waves before but he has copped a lot of shit lately.
Yes, it did cross my mind your comments have a huge negative impact on those suffering mental health issues.
I truly hope you get the education required so as not to keep on with the ignorant damage you are causing.
Yep, I'm sure a few comments from me on this website had a major impact on Fil's mental health and decision to take the year off. Especially as my main comment back at the time was having a go at the WSL final 5 at Trestles farce.
Good, hopefully the WSL will also take note of my comments and bring back the dream tour.
Never knew I had such influence!
You should fire off that comment to about half a dozen others who have been more critical/ harsh than Andy Mac & a couple of those still haven’t pulled their head in
Thanks Mr Mick...!
I have experienced mental health issues in my own family so i know how very serious it is and the consequences can be... are there any medical professionals out there who can enlighten us on the why this happens in to so many different sporting superstars? I'm really interested in the why. Why do we have so many super successful sports people (particularly) who spend their whole lives building towards this career panicle, who love what they do, are fulfilling all their dreams, then go through this very tragic medical situation? I hope Filipe returns to full health and to surfing very soon..
This career panicle …. That is such an appropriate Freudian slip/spelling error there Chipper.
Why? Humans! That’s what happens to us. Stress, fatigue, burn out, changes in family circumstances, personal tragedies, loss of drive/enthisiasm. Take your pick.
I think everyone felt a bit of that going through Covid. I suspect we all have a better appreciation of what ‘mental health’ is now.
Just like physical health, when you have it you don’t think about it, and when you don’t it’s always there in the back or the front of your mind. Always.
Good luck to Fil. He isn’t the one who invented this stupid top 5 end of season shit show.
It is classic Tall Poppy Syndrome. People like to kick someone in the guts because their successful and now it is easily done anonymously behind a keyboard. So much expectation from followers/sponsors, so much criticism from those who get off doing it, nowhere to hide. No wonder it leads to mental health issues.
Hopefully, people will take note.
I dunno about fil but after grinding for years and finally reaching the top, whats next? maybe he is having an existance crisis
Whoa.
All the best, Fil.
M
Oh shit the. 'Pile On' takes its toll. Let's try to remember that our comments don't go into a vacuum.
Best of luck Fillipe! Worthy points champion even before the finals day at Trestles. The Wozzle holds the blame for setting up this ClusterF#@.
I've seen him charge in heavy conditions before but I get the feeling he's been all up in his head at those dangerous waves. Man's got a family to think of.
agree yendor - just the other day I posted in a swellnet thread I couldn't defend Fil anymore ...blah, blah, blah. In the days since I learn my daughter is having some strunggles and needs some porfessional help and then this news. I've been there myself. Shoulda held my tongue, whoulda known better - you never, never know the full story of another person's life. I coulda been kinder. all the best to fil and anyone else out there struggling
Good comment NDC.
It's too easy to get stuck focussing on people's weaknesses rather than strengths.
Fill is an absolute ripper, and one of the most entertaining surfers to watch in almost all conditions. The tour is less of a spectacle without him. Hope he's back where he belongs soon.
I guess that was what i was trying to say as well NDC.
You never know what the person next to you is going through so be kind. You can still have an opinion, just make it with compassion.
Yeah all the best to Fil, it'd not be fun at all copping all the heat from recent events. Regardless of everyone's thoughts it is just surfing and competition in the end. I'm sure he'll come back stronger and hungrier.
Oh man that sucks, all the best to him and family.
With slater done the only heats i really care for are Toledos and JJF.
Wow so many world champions withdrawing something is happening..opportunity for more new blood..
Sad news. I hope Filipe gets well soon. He seems a nice bloke and he’s one of the greats.
As a mate said, not a great look for the WSL with three tops surfers pulling out from burn-out, fatigue, mental health.
The tour moves on though, with or without you craig 100 % . I think john might step out after sunset.
kelly might actually qualify if people keep retiring.
10 years is a long time on the road. Dont blame him.
Filipe to move the family from San Clemente to sleepy Teahupoo in a quest for Olympic gold and heavy wave redemption.
In an article, Stab hinted at Filipe training with Matahi Drollet at Tahiti for the Olympics.
Imagine the head noise for him just thinking about the upcoming Olympics.
That alone would be a constant presence even without all the Pipe carry on.
Yep, bad look for the Wozzle no doubt. Hope he can face down his demons and come back firing
Definitely has some demons to slay. Rx: straight to 8ft chopes.
World Champ** tires of paddling for the horizon, decides to sail off into the sunset.
Sorry sprout, rank comment
All good, I forgive you.
At the end of the day Fil is one of the greats of surfing and has helped take surfing to new heights .....time for everyone to back off and give the guy a break........i would have loved to see him surfing sunset .
Hope he comes back better than ever.
All the best Fil.
Pretty much redefined surfing at Jbay, that will be his biggest legacy to me.
I guess ultimately all these pros are either defined as self employed or perhaps employed by their primary sponsor. Not sure where the employer responsibility lies for the WSL. I'm sure many of us here have access to employee assistance programs or similar. And it's something the big team sports seem to do well.
Hopefully its just what you have to say to justify a year off. A decade on tour, financially secure, couple of young kids, copping flack left, right and centre.. could be just a case of "I don't need this shit". Fingers crossed it's not more serious and he is planning on preparing himself for a tilt at the gold medal.
Good point Belly, he's essentially out of work now, so hope he is being looked after.
The fate of his Olympic bid is the big question now- does this year off include that?
If history is any indication Steve, the sponsors won't give a fig. No contests and no surf trip edits = no return on investment. We all remember how Billabong treated AI.
In one of those Instagram stories, he says loud and clear (Portuguese) he wants to focus in the Gold Medal.
Thanks Julio.
Who would you get as a mentor?
I’m guessing a lot of the local teahupoo surfers are against the Olympics.
Matahi Drollet was mentioned.
This might be the new normal for some of the top older surfers (10years on tour) during an Olympic year. Take time off and take a really good swing at Olympic gold
He could hire JOB and YouTube the whole process if his ego could handle it.
Heaps of under the radar reefs to get started at in the pacific too.
In an article Stab hinted at Filipe training with Matahi Drollet in Tahiti for the Olympics.
Has Fil just taken Kelly’s 2025 wildcard?
Nah there is still a season long wild card from mid season cut 2024 to mid 2025 (that’s the one Kelly got this time round. But hopefully they hold that for Chianca if he needs it. Kelly can just get wild cards into chopes and cloud break
Genuinely surprising news. Hope he is ok and able to get to terms with this.
I feel quite remorseful for being critical of his performances at Pipeline, was not aware he was in such a fragile personal position. That is saddening for the sport but more so for him and his family.
Hope he can resume his career but more so hope he can deal with this successfully, as a father with a young family.
Woulda been nice to fall on his sword pre-Pipe. Given an up and comer a crack.
I'd say getting ripped to shreds by social media warriors will likely have contributed to his decision.
Hopefully he's taking a year to go chases slabs with an experienced pal.
Doesn't need to be able to surf 15ft pipe/chopes/CB. But if he can get confident in 10ft at those spots he'll be in a much better place.
Caity's fault
Mental health or chopes dodging?
Ill go w his track record.
With the surfing world down on him about surfing waves of consequence, it wouldn't be hard to fall into the abyss.
The price of professional sports into today's media driven world where everyone's got an opinion and pass judgement but are not close to the individual so don't know what's going on behind the scenes. But it's a double edged sword without the fame you don't get the rewards.
Medina had some time off a little while ago didn't he? Same shit.
Hopefully he will find a bit of peace away from the limelight and get to do things he enjoys.
Still needs to get his heavy wave game up though if he wants to be recognised as an allround champion...or not.
Good luck to him.
Feel for the bloke… when darkness creeps over it becomes all encompassing… money, fame, privilege can become irrelevant, money plenty of examples in entertainment/ music.
Not being familiar with Brazilian culture (overtly macho??) & their approach to publicly addressing mental illness, this may be a massive step.
I just hope he gets the help he requires & returns bigger & better ie Occy , Hego and go the other way ie AI or Chris Davidson.
Biggest question that arises is what do WSL do now at trestles without fil making shit look like gold?
Maybe took all the social media criticism about his pipe performance too personally. Easy to say but being a public figure he needs to ignore all of that and see it as part of the job. Half the people writing him off wouldn’t paddle out in anything over 2 foot anyway.
" Half the people writing him off wouldn’t paddle out in anything over 2 foot anyway."
Completely true, but using that metric we couldn't criticize any sport. No way I'd pull the boots on and run out on a top level NRL/Union/AFL arena either. If you're a professional athlete you get cheers and you get boos.
That said, I wish him the best. If I had enough squirrelled away to spend a year somewhere tropical with the family getting a few little tubes I know I definitely WOULDN'T BE SITTING AT THIS STUPID DESK!!!
Sorry, just had a moment. All the best PT.
Get back to work Charles!
I have no idea how one sits at a desk 40 hours + a week.
Did you watch Finals Day at Pipe Fil ?
We want you out there too with the rest of the champions of surfing.
Proof of Pipe
So if Fils not on tour will he go to the Olympics? Gold medal Gabe wants to know
Interesting to observe how quickly the pile on has become the pile off.
On another note maybe the wsl will take a mental health break soon
Imagine if your worst day at work was broadcasted worldwide and then piled on by thousands in online forums.
It wouldn’t be much fun.
To be fair on that big day a couple of years ago in Chopes when he refused to take off he did then go and surf the next heat and he did go some bombs. He still lost I think but hucked himself over the ledge none the less with a lot more courage than most. The media generally only talked about the heat when he wouldn’t go though.
I hope he has a good and happy year off.
Hard to understand Fil with all of his natural talent. Looks like a walk in the park for him.
?si=BlT6jWg9DwaeryRtThat first Toledo wave was nuts!
It was a sick and heavy wave that he surfed well, deep, but safely. By that I mean, compare his stance and expression compared to hedge and JJF on that same day.
I thought that heat would be a confidence boosting turning point for him to go on with, but not to be…
… yet.
just watched that and thought the same - if he can do that, and he can, surel ythe absolute thrill of that plus realises "he's got this" would of beena great start to heavy water
I remember a pipe contest slater was in when he was just starting out and he got an absolute bomb super heavy slab almost pipe wave. Pre that there was whispers about his chops in heavy siurf, post that none at all and I think if memory serves he even said that one wave put him on the path
could be faulty memory but i think im right
The crazy one he got in the 1991 Pipe Masters with the 4 foot thick lip? Etched into my memory that one.
Edit: Here it is
&list=PLi-zycGGmUu7WeyXtbgJQ5CglyU9q7oDL&index=27&ab_channel=BillabongThat one absolutely detonated.
That’s the one!! Just seemed like something clicked from then on. Because he wasn’t a natural born charger like some guys (hobgoods/irons etc etc) , which I what I don’t understand about that chopes wave Toledo rides above. I almost feel like it shouldn’t exist, ie if you did that once why not again?
Cheers for bringing this one up BD and for the vid Hiccups.
Yep remember that one like it was yesterday.
That wave inspired me so much as a grom.
That lip is like chopes.....with that other wave underneath him.
The way it lurches on the takeoff and he somehow hangs on. Magic.
Wow, that's a knee/ankle exploder there if he took the wrong line.
That Momentum generation movie has some good insights of how that crew were motivated by Todd Chesser
This one was in a quik.video
Can't remember the name of it
It also had footage of Wayne lynch in north west WA.
Impactful.
Held his own in that heat.. The ability is there.
The tour is boring - Listen to the critics and change it up . Get the Saudis involved LIV style or something.
First call would be , cancel the finals day - nobody is interested in sloppy no consequence waves .
Points accumulated over the years and finish the event like before - at Pipe or something similar .
This years Pipe was one of the best ever. New heights were reached by all.
WAKE UP WAKE UP before you loose your audience.,
Is this 'mental health' like he had 'food poisoning'?
Taking on just 3 or 4 heaving Pipe peaks in a recent heat could have done more his mental health than years of counselling or positive thinking books will ever do. He has the talent to make the drops and barrels easily.
Risk of injury 1 in 1000.
Reward huge.
'You love to hate me? Guess what? I don't love to be hated'.
pulling a Stan Grant, to force some perspective. Good for him
(very moving photo choice @stu)
Given the highs and lows of the last week, good time to reflect on the past. Like Fil’s time on tour, it’s been 10 years since the new beginning-
https://www.surfer.com/features/the-new-asp
From 2013- “ The current Commissioner, Kieren Perrow, is confident. “They get it. They need a mix of good, rippable surf like Trestles, then they need to get scared out of their minds at 12-foot Pipe. They’ve seen how it works. No one will watch 10 Huntingtons.””
I blame social media. In years past he would have been surrounded by people constantly telling him how awesome he is and buffering him from any negativity. Now he is bombarded and trolled constantly by anyone with an axe to grind. It's gotta be pretty hard to ignore.
I don't mind Fil, he definitely has the talent, maybe not the headspace at this time.
Although in the past, he would have been copping it from the surf media. And his peers. And maybe his sponsors?
Maybe, but not the same volume nor in real time. A mag would take a month to come out and there would be only so much space you could dedicate to the subject.
Now, it's instantaneous and limitless. Social media is toxic. I try and stay away from it.
"Social media is toxic. I try and stay away from it." Hear hear Zen, I'm down to Swellnet :) and LinkedIn, LI used to be a great professional site but not anymore, so it might get the flick as well.
so are some of the comments on this forum
Sorry to burst your bubble Zen but this is social media your participating in here on SN
take the year and chase some fucking big slabs. Shut everyone up and dominate 2025 world tour.
I wish him all the best. I hope he comes back full of gumption and belief and newfound skill.
I do not hope he comes back the same timid Fil, thumping his chest yet unwilling to take off at Pipe.
It is totally ok to criticise a world champion that can't/won't rise to the occasion and perform at the biggest stage, cause that's the stuff world champions are made of. Imho that's not undue criticism or a pile-on.
Agree totally he needs someone or something to get this elephant out of his head. It was a terrible look and the the derision that went with it was completely predictable when he didn't even want a wave, then lied he had food poisoning better to come out and say I am shit at heaving waves, I am taking off a year to get better at them and come back. What is wrong with admitting the truth and that there is a question mark over his world titles. Then to rub salt into the wound Caity and Pickles showed him how to do it. Maybe he needs a journal.
To be suffering the debilitating effects of poor mental health whilst being on the world stage must be incredibly brutal & frightening. One of the many negative aspects of being famous. I wish him all the best in his time away from the spotlight.
Surfing contributes $2 Trillion/yr by improving Mental Health of Surfers.
Mental Health benefits comprise 57-74% of total economic benefits of Surfing.
https://www.nature.com/articles/s44183-023-00027-5
Universities universally mandate Govt's Surf Therapy Cash Splash.
WSL boasts record Mental Health handout haul from Govts.
Record number of WSL Pros retiring early with Mental Health Issues.
Obviously only a severe mental health sufferer would draw yer attention to Mass Mental Madness.
Thankfully ain't no Wellness Guru here...mandating $1,000 Mental Health Surf Therapy Course.
tbb stands resolute in supporting #1swellnet frontline mental health leadership!
Why! Coz #1 swellnet frontline crew volunteer to help us sufferers.
#1swellnet Frontline Lifeline is available 24/7 freely to all...Phone : 13 11 14
We mental health sufferers proudly salute & back #1swellnet as our lives depend upon their support!
Sure! Big Call! But this mental Health sufferer lives this life...this is a very real dedication from the heart!
For each year tbb has supported #1 swellnet Mental Health frontline it has saved a life...just ask tbb!
Best wishes to fellow dry docked severe mental health suffering outpatients...get well soon.
PS: Those still naval gazing 'bout how $trillion Mid East VIP Surf Sojourn never cleared their minds?
tbb (Last words to Surf buddies) :
"Struggle more each day but rather surf with you guys than suffer at Home in bed!"
At that time tbb was invited to Top Tier comps and/or give surfing exhibitions.
Never saw mates or the Surf again...maybe once or twice...still way too painful to revisit the beach!
Every time tbb goes near a beach...instinctively wanna retreat as soon as possible!
5 years on the inner stoke never fades but the exhausted Mind and lifeless body ain't responding!
Local beach is now on outta Mars...keep wishing it was in outer galaxy orbit to relieve more pain!
Once saw the most lifeless soul in a car...that was tbb checkin' his mirror headed towards his Local.
Revisiting yer alter ego scares one half to death...darkest cloud hanging over cheerful disposition!
Fly to the end of the Galaxy yet same blasted cloud cloaks ya...zapping yer lifeforce!
Why can't she win a Title > She don't deserve a title > He! No wait! She can't surf Big Waves.
Good thing that Champs don't take it personally...simply shrug it off they do...Champ makes a comeback!
See what all you cruel bitch ass kook warriors did to flipo with your criticism!
Meh honstly i think if he'd just been honest he wouldnt of had weight of the world on his shoulders, like when thorpey came out he seemed a lot happier. If Fil could also come out regarding big waves it would be a non issue, but pretending otherwise drives the online hate. Fingers crossed he learns to surf scary waves this year and come backs and shuts down all his haters, me included. Was watching the girls surf pipe and was absolutely blown away (a few years ago I was def in the camp girls couldnt surf pipe - Sunday I ate humble pie and hooted the same time, they were nuts!), i'd love to eat my words this time next year see him charging pipe
Interesting. While I think much of the cattiness / mean girls shit has been thrown at Fil, it’s the WSL’s constant watering down of a well-established format that enables a world champ that lacks big-wave credibility. The WSL has fucked the core product and alienated their core audience. Fil is collateral damage.
Having the girls charge yesterday can’t have helped his mental state dealing with the venom from his first round performance.
I’d love to see a redemption story where he takes the year off competing, goes underground and builds his confidence and application, and comes back in 2025 full-rounded. But if he doesn’t, that doesn’t take away from his raw talent and his really positive impact on performance surfing for a decade or more.
That should be HIS legacy, not muttering about asterisks on his World champ credentials.
Hope he deals with this and can move on.
Still the same class act he always was.
✔︎
Couldn't help seeing something you are terrified of being done expertly by a couple of teenage girls .
Is that a mental health issue or just another cop out ?
✔︎
Bloody oath @MH
Was thinking the same just didn’t want to say it. Ya can’t question the mental health card these days.
I reckon you nailed it. If you can't stand the heat in the kitchen - get out of it. All people can't surf all conditions - just a fact. Admit it and move on.
Think of the upside of this. When he returns in 2025 - if he returns that is - the wsl might have come to their senses and tossed the 'final 5 at Trestles' format and returned to the overall points at the end of the season = an actual world champ.
100%
While it might be sad for Filipe on a personal level, it's a massive signal to the WSL to fix the broken tour.
Hopefully they answer the wake-up call.
Nailed it @stamos
And Filipe would still have been world champ in 2022 and 2023. Throw out Trestles, Filipe still led the tour in both years. In 2023, he led second place by over 7000 points.
Not if final 5 was at Pipe.
Seems like the best solution.
That assumes that the top guys don't ease off a bit in contests throughout the year because it's a safe final five
Wally, my 2¢ was based on the wsl going to the successful and traditional tour i.e. start in Oz, finish in Hawaii. The 'condensed' tour that you reference combined with the 'mid-year cut' makes anyone's results null & void in contrast.
Yes Giovanni, it is impossible to treat years under different systems as equal. But, I don’t think the cut gets rid of too many season contenders. Maybe some contenders take the foot off the gas if they already look to be in the top 5. I wouldn’t call it much of a ‘condensed’ tour. Before the Trestles final was invented, there were 11 events including 1 event in Hawaii. In 2023, there were 10 events (plus Trestles), including 2 events in Hawaii.
All the best FT. I hope you get some professional help. Stay off social media it’s poisonous, vitriolic and mostly pointless.
Even here on the relatively safe SN forums, there are a couple of really nasty pieces of work
Unfortunate to hear and will be missed by viewers. Reckon he’ll focus on big waves come back stronger
The pressure on him without being a professional athlete and world champion would already be something many would struggle with.
He’s a young father, bread winner and apparently looks after his whole family. That is a lot.
You truely don’t know what people are going through.
A very good reminder surfing is just that, surfing.
He owes the public and the surfing world nothing. He’s provided a lot of entertainment and inspiration to many.
Go well Fil, enjoy that family and all the little moments mate.
Absolutely.
"He’s a young father, bread winner and apparently looks after his whole family. That is a lot."
Massive achievement, well done!
A lot of back pedalling on here…
I hear Nathan Florence has experience taking former world champs on slab tours…
Fil needs to sign up go hard core with the chargers, cop some big beatings and succeed.
Go park up at Lunas for a month.
Ahhh not sure that would be my pick first up.
nice one lol
I reckon what the girls did out at Pipe yesterday would have hit him a lot lot harder than any social media pile on has.
Hopefully Fil is ok in the future. Incredibly gifted surfer who is great to watch live.
the fella is unstoppable in the small and ultra perfect stuff so will make a more interesting year.
who gets in to the 2024 tour in his place?
Ramzi is in.
ah righto... thought he was already in as an injury replacement.
He was in for Chianca, but is now in all events for Filipe.
So who is now in for Chianca? (starting to sound like Abbott & Costello)
Sunset wildcards are Kai Lenny, Keanu Asing and Brodi Sale.
say no to Keanu !
we've seen Keanu before in comps, can't recall Kai but seen him a lot, Brodi is a complete unknown to me.
very interesting.
His performance against Hog at chopes was flawless in heavy water. Whether he has the yips or not only he would know.
Maybe he just hates the whole pro thing at the moment I know I do….
…easy to crack your melon on reefs and some softer hearted guys will be thinking about their families etc ….who will look after them while I recover ???and other way too deep thoughts can mess you up big time.
Good for him having a year off to think.
I didn’t have any time for the air show…… clowns in my opinion…..and then I saw Phil surf J bay……id never seen anything like that before…..sat there stunned.
Opens a huge door for an E.Ewing World Title at Trestles now, pending a top 5 finish of course.
No jbay this year...
WSL needs to go back to the old format. Waves of consequence, no mid-year cut, finish the year at Pipe in December near Christmas (it was a great tradition to end the year at the home of surfing).
So many people want this,
It's not happening though is it ?
I think it's a smart move for him.
If he can get his head around the slab breaks he will be practically unstoppable anywhere, and that Asterix next to his Titles will be gone forever. Future GOAT, who knows?
If he doesn't, I don't know if he'd want to rejoin the tour. Don't think his ego and pride could take another hammering like the one it's just copped.
And personally, I think a lot of the criticism was valid, but full-on personal insults aren't. He's an elite athlete, it goes with the territory.
If he's genuine about facing his fears, then you have to give the guy major credit for sacrificing a probable 3rd world title to work on it. If not, he can sook all he likes.
Good luck to him.
Every single one of the major news publications that are running a story on his exit are making mention of his fear of big barrels, and his 'food poisoning'.
Unusual considering surfing normally is just a sport that's reported on in mainstream press with mundane formality.
Fantastic news .
So was the food poisoning a lie?
If you lost your confidence at pipe seeing Robson go left without priority and having Gabs shoulder hop at a critical stage would not be a boost.
Urgh, the Beach Grit boys are going to have a field day with this one..
I went and had a Quick Look. Wasn’t as toxic as I anticipated.
He should be grateful for the World Titles he has won under a flawed system... he won't be missed in my world.
World champion formula one drivers don’t win titles by pulling over when the track is wet.
Damn. Just happened to see this. Florence, Robinson, Slater, and Toledo have been the heats that interest me over the past few years. Ewing, Colapinto, Robson, Mamiya, Italo, Dora, and a couple others have grown on me also.
It sucks that Toledo has withdrawn. Not sure what was going on at Pipe, but definitely wish him well. The wsl tour will now hold even less interest for me after Sunset.
One has to wonder is there something going on at WSL behind the scenes, which has not become public knowledge yet.
Yes, it’s the Toxic Positivity (or in oz the “head-up-your-own-arse” syndrome) that has been mentioned before on SN. Nobody has the kahunas to tell them their product sucks.
Re: Feelipe. I still reckon he has PTSD from when ELo asked him to take his shirt off then doodled him with his eyes on live broadcast. I know I wood.
Andrew, mate, EVERYONE is telling them their product sucks. They just aren't listening.
There couldnt be in their bubble/vacuum/echo chamber/circle jerkoff. Us Swillnutters are an analytical bunch. We’ve been saying it for years!
The critiquing of his performance in thick round lefts is fair game. When it’s your profession and u trade/ make money on “world’s best surfer” and cannot meet that mark …. I am not sure you are entitled to high fives?
Toledo was in charge of his performance (not just on the day) and also in charge of the story afterwards. He stuffed both up and increased the pressure on himself. His responses were amateur…. Even with not experts all around him. The cuddling of the WSL made it worse.
His is without question the best small wave surfer in the world, He is not the best surfer.
That all said, the real villain in this story are the WSL for creating a format that promotes this and for creating a travelling crèche rather than a pro tour.
The last 24hrs has been a line in the sand for pro surfing….. who would have thought it would be the women that will this give “wannabe tennis tour” the backbone it needs.
All the best Fil….. step one might be to ditch some of your inner circle.
Wonder how different the public reaction would be if instead of coming out with the “I don’t need to prove anything to anyone, the critics can get lost, I’ve got two world titles etc etc” after this latest Pipeline debacle, he just came out and admitted “yeah I’m really shit scared of hollow shallow reef waves and it’s something I need to/am going to, go away and work on and try to overcome my fears.
Just be honest.
I’d respect him hugely if that was the case.
It would be unreal if he came back to Hawaii next year and went beserk when it was massive and heavy.
Pay Nate Flo a wage to train him for 6 months on a slab tour. Film it and every single surfer in the world would watch it.
100%
Adriano de Souza, case in point. Well, he wasn't a wuss, but he sucked at Pipe, so camped out on JOB's doormat and asked him to help him.
Also had a rank bottom turn, but improved his style immensely.
Admired him for those efforts and his humility.
I spent a bunch of time out at pipe when job and ads were training.
Jamie had a banner setup on his fence at his old house.
You could line it up with another marker to sit in the right spot .
Job really helped ads out.
By the end ads was charging backdoor. On some bigger waves.
I think Felipe is just a surrogate for everyone's ire at the WSL. If we didn't have the final 5 at Trestles would he be in this position now? He would have competed at all events and whether he did well or not at the heavy breaks noone would question his world titles. The avalanche of abuse is really just a proxy for everyone's frustration over the final 5 at Trestles. Can't they just change that? Felipe doesn't deserve the kicking he has been getting. He is a great surfer.
partly agree on your comment about him being the "surrogate", Felipe's success with the Final 5 business has definitely lit the mobs' torches but he was already on the nose years back after that Box heat. coupled with him being a few notches above everyone in the air game (super radical & super consistent) has made him a bit of a target.
but yeah, there's definitely some energy out there looking for a reason to kick the WSL in the nuts. i see there's an article in the Fairfax rags that's popped up today... yet to read it, but let's see how the mainstream journos deal with all of this carry on.
You can’t turn Asterisk into Obélix. Some of us fell into the magic potion when babies. Most of us didn’t. No shame in it.
We thought we knew the story. How it goes. Yet, all of a sudden, there’s a fresh volume on the shelves. New characters introduced. A plot twist he didn’t see coming. How could he? No one did.
The setting’s been moved, as ever. But this place, there’s just something about it… a shift. It hits hard. He knows - Asterisk - deep within, that he doesn't fit here. He's not relevant here. His narrative arc is complete.
Yes - if compelled to enter the arena, to combat the mighty centurion, a cup of the magic potion might do the trick. But with that comes consequence. Others have done it this way. No doubt. In earlier volumes. But now? In this new world? An anachronism. And who’d believe it? No way. It wouldn’t be right. Not for our hero.
So, at the last, a courageous, even tragic, flourish - we feel it as true, real – all the more so for what isn’t said. In his prime, - the main character until what seems like a second ago - Asterisk writes himself out of the tale. Nothing in his storied but flawed Woz career became him like the leaving it.
Far out @Roker, this is a brilliant, no, absolutely brilliant piece of writing.
Hit all the nails on the head with poetic swagger.
Thanks so much for sharing.
Agree with all your sentiments.
Does this imply that JJF should go and carve menhirs?
Always wanted to write 'menhirs' on Swellnet.
Mabe give Luke Cederman a call.
He seems like he's on the ball.
Chatter about the "stress" of life on the tour and attributing this to mental issues is such rubbish.
I have worked FIFO for quite a while, which obviously involves being away from family and friends, and staying in much less glamorous surrounds than some of the worlds best surf breaks lol.
Much like that, if your personal family situation or mental fortitude don't support doing that, then step aside and let someone in who wants to give it a crack.
As for the whole mental health conversation in elite sport....i once read a quote from Keith Miller, former test Australian cricket captain who served in WW2 and generally considered a champion knockabout bloke.
When asked by the journo how stressful captaining our cricket team was, he replied something like "stress is flying a fighter plane with the opposition trying to kill you every day....cricket is just a game"
Love that quote, my old man brings it up regularly. ‘Stress is having a Messerschmitt on your arse, not a game of cricket.’
Yeah i reckon you raise some great points there.
Something else to ponder.
Not sure how spiritual Fil is or what his support crew are like...but..
Death of ego/self can be pretty painful...especially if you're trying to hold onto your ego. And Fil is right in the frypan of that at the moment, rightly or wrongly. (especially after yesterdays teenage girl antics at Pipe!)
He's been the alpha male on the pro tour insofar as what the world tour requires of you to be considered the best.
And at the peak of his powers, he's had the alpha rug pulled out from under him for all the world to see.*cough..food poisoning. etc.
Could feel alot like depression, same as how grief can feel that way.
But it's not a mental illness. It's a passage of self discovery. The separation of self from spirit. It's a phase of life, we all go through, sometimes multiple times. Painful yes. But leaning into it is where the growth comes. Not hiding from it.
Whatever it is Fils going through, (only he knows) i wish him all the best.
He's either gonna double down, with his current support crew and keep on keeping on, (which will keep yielding the same outcome) or i can kinda almost see him just rising to the challenge in the next few months and flicking a switch and going into madman mode and charging. He'll be a weapon if he does. (hoping what i read above about him moving to Chopes for 6months is true). Honestly, unstoppable. And i'll be so stoked for him.
He's got those crazy mad dog eyes. He's obviously tapped...just look at his airs. Just gotta get past this little mental block i reckon. Needs a good mentor. Pure and simple,..and as Goofyfoot pointed out above, if the innercircle aint working, change it. (maybe less whistling spokespeople?)
I wonder if he'd withdraw from the tour if it was held all year in 4foot rights.
Or if he'd withdraw a few days out from Trestles finals day citing the same reasons. I really don't believe he would.
The timeline of recent events definitely points to a much deeper issue of denial.
But at the end of the day, he's a good bloke, looks after his family, doesn't hurt anyone, but probably just holds a mirror up to our own fears and insecurities which hits the trigger button and lends himself to being an easy punching bag for our own inadequacies.
He does seem like a good guy as u say.
I also don’t subscribe to the lack of courage discussion, I have never done a 10ft high air into the flats but I would guess that would get heart rate up.
He just had a blocker in certain waves….. the non addressing it appears to have snowballed to such a level it is now a serious weight …. Holding back performance and his own well-being.
I have a feeling that story has not finished, more chapters will be written about Fil.
A change of goals, a change in support team ….. we haven’t seen the last of Fil.
The talent is too great.
Great comment!
Depression and mental illness can affect anyone.
No arguments from me there LD.
what will happen for the Olympics position?
An interesting side note to the fili fiasco is it's brought surfing's POD (a cliche marketing term I know) into foreground focus; that is fear is a big part of the attraction of surfing, no matter what your level. As Kanga once said to me: "The thing about (big wave) surfing is one day it will ask you to answer one of the most difficult personal questions of them all; that is do you have what it takes to spin and go on one of those things?". Suddenly inconsistent weather patterns, it's consequent "product control issues" and the dubious call of "judges" don't mean that much. That's all good news to me and a clue to what the future of competitive surfing looks like for the WSL curatorial team.
Dunno if its been said, but real or not, its fukin brilliant!
Sunday - fil your a cunt, fuck right off
Tuesday - fil we love you, all the best mate
You forgot worst pipe ever one day to fucking best pipe ever on these very pages it’s hilarious.
But it was.
Exactly that.
Why hilarious ? ? ?
What a flog, least he could have done was give it away before Pipe, give someone else his place.
Add another asterisk after his name.
shut up
No
Talk about a rabbit warren !
I hope Filipe gets on top of his demons he truly is a ledge. His performance at Jbay that year he won 2017? defined performance/power surfing.
Hope he finds peace of mind and happiness during his year off. Though I suspect he is playing it safe.
One less pesky Brazzo for the Aussie contingent to charge through and the humble Hawaiians to mow over.
the swell net bullies will be cheering this, endless comments attacking the guy recently made it clear that within this swellnet echo chamber, his absence at 10 foot pipe mean he is an unworthy worldchamp and should be run out of town. well done also to the moderators who allowed this level of abuse and bullying.
Fair enough. There are some bullies here.
But most not. Read between the lines...on most social platforms. There's an overwhelming cross section of the surf community that just are sick of where the sport's going...Fil is unwittingly(and in my opinion, deservedly) on the masthead of that...mostly due to the snowballing systemic WSL failures.
There are also people willing to engage in a conversation.
So you don't think a world champ that has never, ever shown a willingness to surf a 10 foot heaving wave (not to mention his contest results in proper surf ....T..0.00...ledo... shouldn't be scrutinized to assess his worthiness as being the very best surfer in the world?
By the fans. That's the thing about surfing. The fans aren't football fans. A large percentage of the fans of pro surfing are hardcore chargers. Still active. Completely engaged in their own surfing experience..which completely usurps Toledos non attempts at tackling....what most of us call...you know...SURF! Proper surf. Are we catering for tryers now? A trophy for trying? Yeah you ripped that little wave...here's a trophy. It's not surfing....not as we know it...but its 2024, so you know...
Toledo. The yellow jersey man.
Always has his worst heats in big surf. This week....(weak?) Calls on two medical time outs, during the same contest...one that has big surf in his heat on the day, and in the forecast.., and Sunset that has big surf following. In fact, the only good wave i ever remember Filipe catching was the one he dropped in on Kai Otton(?) who had priority and was deep on a Pipe bomb, only for Flippy to drop in on the shoulder with priority...stuff him into the pit and oblivion, get a little chandelier and ruin one of the great Pipe rides in history. Go Flippy!
Genuinely interested in your response.
2014 photo of Otts at chopes. ….. every time flip sees that I think a little bit of wee comes out
Yeah you've never abused anyone in your thread here lol. Your on the top of the bully list.
https://www.swellnet.com/forums/wax/521681
hahaha. Reeeeow!
he deserved to be roasted for that piss poor pipe show, that's what drives competition and writes the narrative, whats the point in a competition without punditry, if anything the tour needs more well intentioned criticism, nothing good ever came from blowing hot air up someones arse 24/7.
Felipe Toledo is a freak surfer,
Some of his best attributes:
the air game best in the world level, generating speed in tiny gutless waves, manoeuvres..
it is those expecting him to be a big wave , slab charger, just accept that is not his thing, try riding a fucking tiny thin surfboard in heavy waves, that's what he rides all the time.
The criticism reminding me of boogie boarder, mal rider type payouts, don't blame the surfer blame the system, flea circus acts win contests year after year in small waves.
Whatever your expectations of what you think the world champ should do, let go. If he was sponsored free surfer he would be highly respected for what he does..... some of Australia's freesurfers have been elite air trick surfers, the boards are tiny and the surfers bantamweights like Felipe is, he would be better suited?
Is it straight out possible that Toledo is suffering chronic burn out and depression after years dealing with the rigours of tour life in conjunction with all the trappings including no more groupies and constant online abuse? Of course it's possible - especially when you include the abuse from those here on the swellnet forum. Those posters who even talk smack about everyone's fàvourite little oinker Nathan 'the hog' Hedge. Or Hedgey as he's oft referred. I still remember the jealous loathing of the Swellnet forum users and the resentment garnered by an aging surf star given a redemptive shot, a shot many of you must have clearly been denied in life. Also the way you tried to shame his eating addiction particularly the way he would lather himself up in kebab as a signature move to signify a ripper of a night out. Legend! In addition the way you all seemed to forget these comments and begrudgingly commend and begin to ride on the blazing coat tails of his top four finish and massive success at Teauuuphooo. Or Chopes.
I only I Leroy, a lone kiwi by origin stood proudly behind this iconic Aussie from the outset. (There were also 12-15 others though- ).
Anyway getting back to Phill, I'm guessing it's a combo of factors.
Consider this. The guy won three world titles by not going. Eddie would be rolling around in his watery grave. And do you know what??? You got to hand it to the guy. He made the right call. He did that and still won. Its strategic genius. Let's say he does the opposite, he over compensates at Pipe and Chopes and gets hurt before the final five. Loses his titles and right now no one commenting on Swellnet. No one gives a shit.
Leroy calls himself a masochist, but the reality is Leroy would do what Phill did. Leroys a champion. You know it.
However, is this is what's really interesting, there is the actual possibility here that he dude has legit issues with his cajones. He fronts like Andy, and he chose that as its his second meal. Nicely selected morsel I say. I can see why this could create some actual existential angst.
If he's legit shitting and not being calculated this is the biggest story in surfing for ages.
Surfing is NOT supposed to be stressful.
Good on him for taking some time out.
Magic to watch.
Just saw Toledo's latest you-tube video.
In it he expressely states he is not depressed or sad and that the social media pile on had no influence on his decision.
He just came back from a 4 month break and said he needed a break and a rest.
Make of that what you will.
This does not sound (by his own words) like a mental health decision.
TBH I thought it was a bit rich to think FT was giving credence to what was being said about him. Sure, his old man might flare up, as proud old blokes do, but you don't get to the top of the professional pile by caring what online strangers say about you.