Preseason Surfer Profile: Filipe Toledo

Leading up to the 2016 World Surf League Championship Tour season, I will be counting down my projected Top 10 surfers for the highest level of men's competitive surfing. A preview of the women's 2016 season is also to come.

Filipe Toledo, Brazil

2016 Go Left World Ranking Projection: 6

2015 World Ranking: 4

2015 WCT Wins: 3

Filipe Toledo is arguably the most exciting surfer on tour. When he has the chance to take to the air, everybody on the beach collectively holds their breath. Toledo experienced a serious breakout year in 2015, winning two of the first four stops on the World Tour on his way to finishing fourth in the rankings at year’s end. He had a shot at the World Title going into Pipe, but so did several others surfers. While Toledo is known for his air game, he continues to improve the other facets of his surfing each year. A ninth-place finish in Tahiti and a 13^th in Fiji show that he’s improving his barrel riding, something that needs to continue if he wants to win a World Title.

Filipe Toledo, doing what he does best and going to the air.
Courtesy of Steven Tyler PJs

Toledo is no longer just an aerial specialist, which makes him a contender in 2016. However, I see a bit of regression coming in his ranking, mostly due to the positives I expect from guys that could leapfrog him in the ranks more than any negatives relating to Toledo. Filipe is still just 20 years old, though, and if he makes significant strides at certainly tour stops this season he could end up winning the World Title. I don’t think I can remember a season in which there were so many legitimate World Title contenders. Hell, Brazil has three on its own. Toledo is a must-see surfer in rampy conditions, and if he can continue to get better at other events on tour he could very well be hoisting the hardware next winter. 

Follow Morgan, founder of Go Left, on Twitter @GoLeftSurf

Recommended Read: Laughing It Off

SURFER Magazine currently has a great interview with surfer Sterling Spencer up on their site. It covers a variety of topics, including his latest self-released movie, but the parts dealing with Spencer's battle with depression, the death of his father and his lack of competitive drive are the most poignant and intriguing. Definitely worth a look.

Preseason Surfer Profile: Italo Ferreira

Leading up to the 2016 World Surf League Championship Tour season, I will be counting down my projected Top 10 surfers for the highest level of men's competitive surfing. A preview of the women's 2016 season is also to come.

Italo Ferreira, Brazil

2016 Go Left World Ranking Projection: 7 

2015 World Ranking: 7

2015 WCT Wins: 0

I must admit, I did not see Italo Ferreira coming in 2015. To be honest, I didn’t know much about the Brazilian when the year started, but that quickly changed. Italo looked like he belonged with the big boys right out of the gate when he posted a ninth at Snapper Rocks. After a pair of less-than-stellar results on the remainder of the Aussie leg, Ferreira really began to show his chops in Rio when he did his brethren proud by appearing in the semifinals. I was prepared to chalk that up as a fluky result, but there was no denying this kid’s staying power after he reached the quarters in Fiji.

Ferreira throwing some spray on his backhand at J-Bay.
Courtesy of Leo za1

Italo continued to post good finishes as the season progressed, including a fifth in Tahiti, a fifth in France and a second in Portugal. It was a no-brainer to vote him as Rookie of the Year, and he finished in the Top 10 for the season. Italo surfs well in all conditions. He has an electric air game, and he quickly proved himself in barrels as well. His backside hacks are always on-point, and he’s a real threat to break into the Top 5 this season if things really click for him. He failed to reach Round Three just one time in 2015, an amazing feat for a rookie. There could be big things in store for this youngster.

Follow Morgan, founder of Go Left, on Twitter @GoLeftSurf

Go Left is Back!

Dear Readers,

After a more than two-year hiatus, I’m happy to say that the Go Left blog is back. My time away was filled with lots of travel and life changes, and with things settling down a bit I thought it a good time to resume some surf writing. This time around Go Left will focus on a multitude of topics in the surfing world. The blog will extensively cover the World Surf League’s Championship Tour, the elite level of competitive surfing. It will also be a place to find videos, information on coastal conservation and musings on a variety of surf-related topics. If you’re a surfer, then you surely understand what an integral part of your life the pursuit of riding waves quickly becomes, and hopefully Go Left will serve as a place where you can quench a thirst for all things surf while you’re not in the water. So welcome back to any returning readers, and welcome for the first time to any new readers. I hope you enjoy Go Left and get something out of it. Shakas.

Sincerely,

Morgan
@GoLeftSurf