Filipe Toledo, your 2017 Hurley Pro Trestles Champ. Photo: WSL
An in-form Filipe Toledo took out an equally in-form Jordy Smith on Friday to win the 2017 Hurley Pro Trestles. Following his win at the Corona Open J-Bay, Toledo’s win at Lowers makes him the first and only so far to win two events this season.
But it’s been a long road for Filipe. After an interference debacle against Kanoa Igarashi in Rio (he supposedly “stormed the judges tower” and was suspended from the OK Fiji Pro), Filipe’s had some hurdles to overcome this season. Not to mention the redux of said interference at the US Open – not a ‘CT event, of course, but one that could build or kill momentum into Trestles.
Filipe overcame those obstacles and came out swinging early. The now San Clemente resident was unstoppable through to the finals – staying busy, putting a heat together with five ridden waves while Smith sat out the back waiting with priority. Ultimately, Smith got a 9 more than halfway through the heat, but couldn’t back it up with a second score.
The win bumps Toledo up from number 9 to number 7 ranking on the Jeep Leaderboard and thrust him into the world title conversation as we look toward the European leg.
