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“Teahupo’o is not a joke and you have to make your own decision…”

Teahupo’o, or chief town, is in the rearview mirror as the World Surf League Championship Tour swings toward Central and then South America. Yes, the El Salvador Pro opens its wait in just four days, while the Rio Pro is right on its heels. But after that, the cream of the crop will carbon footprint back to Tahiti to prepare for the Olympics.

Now many of the hopefuls excelled “at the end of the road,” which only highlighted their courage and skill. Vahine Fierro, John John Florence, Gabriel Medina, Jack Robinson and Ramzi Boukhiam to name just five. Others, like Jordy Smith and Kanoa Igarashi, also performed well, showing the work that has been done over the years to confront the terror.

And then there is the case of Filipe Toledo.

The current World Surfing Champion, who joined the tour this year but is still Olympic bound, was at Head Place just before the Pro and thought it would be a good idea to post unfinished babyton to his social media as proof. Perhaps he was unaware of the prediction that real waves would come and that they would actually be ridden, which was in stark contrast to his efforts. In any case, Toledo’s reluctance to paddle Teahupo’o has been a major storyline heading into the Olympics. His historic heat total of 0.0 and his inability to exert effort in a heat with two vintage cars are legendary. The call for him to give up his place grew into a roar after the victory of compatriot Italo Ferreira. Ferreira is the odd man out in Brazil’s crowded selection.

But Toledo has shown no sign of giving up and is defiantly clutching his pearls. Well, one of the aforementioned old-timers, Kelly Slater, who coincidentally reached the quarter-finals in the most recent series, just gave some advice to the timid lion. In honor of this week, Slater wrote: “Tahiti was amazing. The energy, the people, the surf… if only you could bottle it up for everyone to experience. Thank you for all the support and fun this week from family, friends and fans.” The 56-year-old then described his experience and praised those who put their heads down before noting: “Teahupo’o is no joke and you have to make your own decision if you want to and ignore what the brain is. say every now and then.”

Certainly easier said than done, but also good advice. With less than two months to go before the torch is lit, Toledo will turn off his brain and become the greatest sports story ever told or not? I wholeheartedly applaud Filipe Toledo and especially want it to be clearly remembered.

He will surf against Igarashi in the opening round.

More as the story develops.