Toledo isn’t a California resident anymore. Photo: WSL
Filipe Toledo recently made a big move: he left San Clemente to move back to Brazil. He’s been busy over the last few years. All the travel that comes with pro surfing, the Paris Olympics, and fathering three children makes for a busy life, and according to a recent interview with Olympics.com, his kids had a lot to do with his decision to return home.
“It’s a decision that was carefully considered with my family. Today, the idea is to be more present in Brazil, especially at this point in my life,” Toledo told Olympics.com. “The biggest benefits are being close to those I love and having a quality of life that makes sense for us. Challenges exist, of course, especially regarding travel and training logistics, but that’s part of the bigger picture.”
But the move does bring up some issues for the Toledo family. There’s only one WSL event in Brazil — stop number six at Saquarema — which means he’ll need to be away from his family even more during the CT year.
“That’s the part that many people don’t see,” he said. “It’s a difficult, even painful time, and it’s never easy to leave home to travel and compete, even after so many years on the tour. At the same time, my wife and children are an extra source of motivation for me. They give me the strength to continue chasing our dreams and my goals within the sport.”
Toledo made the move to San Clemente, California back in 2014. It turned out to be a good idea, because with Lower Trestles as his home break, he managed to win two back-to-back world titles there. Lowers, of course, will also be the venue for surfing at the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028, but Toledo thinks he’s got enough time under his belt at the iconic spot to carry him through.
“We always try to weigh everything, even more so when it involves an event like the Olympics,” Toledo explained. “Besides the WCT (WSL Championship Tour) events that will take place there, I intend to go a few times to train. After all, I consider Trestles my second home. I experienced very special moments there that will stay in my memory forever. Nowadays, with planning, it’s possible to make it work.”
