Special coverage of Olympic surfing on DUKE is presented by the International Surfing Association, The Island Surf Shop, SurfCycled, lineup, Swellboards, ALAS, Capi Bar, Quality Surfboards y Ramp 4 Kids - Cover photo: WSL/Cestari

Two-time world champion Filipe Toledo will be leaving for Tahiti next Friday, July 12, where he will remain for his participation in the Paris 2024 Olympic surfing competition.

He himself told this yesterday in a Q and A on Instagram.

Toledo said he didn't even look at the swell charts because he's going to be there surfing whatever comes his way. He said his trip to Costa Rica was especially for physical and mental preparation and not for the waves.

He said that despite being able to take a break from competitions for the first time in his life, something he hasn't done since he was a child, and experiencing things he had never experienced before in his life, he never stopped training and even believes he has dedicated himself a little more to training. But he hasn't changed his training strategy.

“I feel physically and mentally prepared and that is what matters: to be strong and prepared here (pointing to his head),” he said. He added that his “expectations are very good,” spoke of the Brazilian team and concluded: “I am feeling good, the expectation is good, I believe in my potential and that I can do a good job and represent Brazil, my country, well. God willing, bring a medal for us.”

Among other things, he said he is anxious, “but very anxious, with good expectations,” he said.

Toledo has been questioned for his ability on heavy reef lefts.

At Teahupoo last year he lost in the elimination round and at Pipe this year he withdrew from the event citing food poisoning.

Filipe's father, Ricardo, said he is afraid of left-wingers with reef in an interview with a Brazilian podcast.

In it he said that he was going to train for the games but for now Filipe traveled once alone to Tahiti where he spent a week surfing small waves for the place.

Toledo will face Alonso Correa and Kanoa Igarashi.

 

DUKE's presence in Tahiti to cover Olympic surfing is also possible thanks to Philippe Demarsan, Pepe Gelos, Chifle Pérez del Castillo, Juanja Vargas, Zinka Mendoza Josefina and Tomás Barbé, Mónica Ugalde, Pilar Aguerrebere, Edu Fernández and Wilma Ehni.