US Open of Surfing favorite Filipe Toledo has decided not to compete in the event and is apparently staying in Teahupoo where he wrote on Instagram that he is recovering from an injury.

"After a few days I have decided to withdraw from the US Open, I am really focused on recovering from the injury and being ready for Tahiti. Thank you all for the love and respect," the current leader of the ranking posted.

On the other hand, in another story he wrote that he needed someone to travel to Tahiti, which indicates that he is not going to move from there.

As for the injury, it's not clear what specifically happened to him, but everything points to the cuts caused by the Teahupoo reef taking their toll on him, and the photo he shared himself looks pretty raw.

Whatever the reason, the strategy certainly seems to be the right one if he is serious about winning the world title. He has failed to make it past Round 2 in two consecutive events at Teahupoo and it is well known that heavy tubular lefts are not his specialty.

Toledo is first in the world rankings and has as his main rival Julian Wilson, who is the defending champion of the event.

In his Round 1 series at Teahupoo he will face Connor O'Leary and a wildcard to be determined.