Breaking News: Filipe Toledo Goes Back-to-Back, Beats Ethan Ewing for World Title after Spine-Breaking Injury

John John Florence predicted this.

A few weeks back, during our interview, we asked: “Who’s gonna win the World Title?”

“Probably Filipe,” he said. “At chest-high Lowers, he’s one of the best surfers ever.”

And JJF was right. Lowers was chest-high, and Filipe was unstoppable.

The San Clemente transplant, by way of Brazil, beat Aussie surfer Ethan Ewing in the WSL Finals Day best-of-three showdown, earning him back-to-back World Titles.

Ewing, if you’ll remember RSVP’d a “maybe” for the WSL Finals Day, following a back-breaking injury at Teahupo’o during a free-surf for the Shiseido Tahiti Pro.

He pulled out of Tahiti, yet maintained his spot in the WSL Final Five, and the surf world waited with baited breath to see if he would show up. And show up he did.

Ewing looked lethal on Finals Day, taking out hometown hero and Matthew McConaughey’s favorite surfer, Griffin Colapinto.

But his stylish, well-groomed carves and unshakeable composure couldn’t match Toledo’s lightning-fast progression on the fabled cobblestones of Lower, Trestles.

“It’s so hard to put into words what it took for me to be here right now,” Filipe said after the win. “A lot of sacrifice. Seven years ago, I had my first kid and I wasn’t home to much. I wasn’t there. Same for the second one. But I knew in the long run this was going to pay off.”

He continued:

“It was never easy, but I was able to pull it off.”

Just like with Caroline Marks’ win, Kelly Slater congratulated Filipe:

“Huge congrats to @filipetoledo. There’s a different pressure when you’re expected to win and he handled it like the champ he is. It’s great to see the best win the year and Filipe is a true family man, committed to them even more than his surfing. First back to back Brazilian world champ. Nice work, boss. 💪🏽

Back to Griff…the local favorite. San Clemente’s golden boy.

Today, San Clemente mourns; but they’ll be back. Don’t worry.

And Filipe?

“Time to celebrate,” he said, “have a few beers, and enjoy.”

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