Few things will fan the flames of froth like looking back on an old surf trip. Granted, if you’re Filipe Toledo your entire life is basically one big surf trip. So the idea of “getting away” is ironically elusive.
Getting away from jerseys, getting away from heat draws, no longer picking waves based on point-producing potential, getting in the water when somebody says you have to be in the water. These are the things a world tour surfer actually has to find some way to escape from. And the Maldives might be on the short list of surf destinations where that can be accomplished.
During some time off from the 2017 season, Toledo took the trip (above). It was a year in which the Brazilian surfer finished 10th in the rankings for the second season in a row. As we all know, he went into 2018 on fire and held the yellow jersey for a good portion of the tour schedule. Maybe a little more R&R in the Maldives would be just the thing he needs before starting his 2019 campaign?
