There's a phrase at the poker table called "heating up." A guy keeps getting dealt better and better hands. The same phrase is used in sports, too, for pro basketball players on the court that continually build on their performances within a timeframe during a game.
But does greatness really snowball like that or do some athletes just get really, really comfortable?
Filipe Toledo vs. Conner Coffin vs. Bede Durbidge
Regardless, in Heat 11 of Round One, Filipe Toledo heated up to some molten-level degrees we may not have ever seen in our sport. At least in waves equal to what was offered up at Winkipop today.
Starting off calm and collected, Filipe caught a few deep ones at Winkipop, perhaps just to test the waters, so to speak. Air to carve combos aren't uncommon for Filipe, but by the middle of the heat, his high-8's became throwaway scores. As in, he burned a 8.93 and an 8.17.
Brazilian small-wave whiz, Filipe Toledo, earned a perfect 10 at the 2017 Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach, and the highest heat total of the event.
Though Conner Coffin and Bede Durbidge - both amazing natural footers suited for Winkipop's perfect righthanders - were also in the heat, Filipe entered a place where he was essentially competing against himself.
As if his 8.93 wasn't sturdy enough, he bagged a 9.70, and in the closing minute of the heat, scored a perfect 10.
"I finished so far down the point I didn't really know what the score was and I asked someone and they were like, ‘It was a 10!' and I was like, ‘WHAT?!'" laughed Toledo. "I wasn't even sure it was going to be a 10 because it was a smaller wave, but I did do everything I could on it. I was just happy to make it through, but also happy to be surfing such perfect waves."
Sure, he can do freakish airs, but Filipe Toledo backs them up with turns of this caliber. - WSL / Jack Barripp
With a 19.70-point heat total, it'll be interesting to see what Toledo's approach will be in Round Three. Perhaps, just surf in a short-arm steamer so he doesn't over-heat?
Never one to shy away from hyperbole, former World Champion Barton Lynch weighed in with this: "He just built the heat so well. He started it good and then just put himself in the position where he could let those fireworks go. He just built and built and let himself go."
Toledo backs up his previous 8.93 with an 9.70 against Conner Coffin and Bede Durbidge in Round One Heat 11.
"It's as good a performance as I've ever seen, I reckon. It was just incredibly managed, and athletically, it was beyond my comprehension."
A reckoning of a heat, indeed.
Filipe Toledo Wins the Day
WSL
There's a phrase at the poker table called "heating up." A guy keeps getting dealt better and better hands. The same phrase is used in sports, too, for pro basketball players on the court that continually build on their performances within a timeframe during a game.
But does greatness really snowball like that or do some athletes just get really, really comfortable?
Regardless, in Heat 11 of Round One, Filipe Toledo heated up to some molten-level degrees we may not have ever seen in our sport. At least in waves equal to what was offered up at Winkipop today.
Starting off calm and collected, Filipe caught a few deep ones at Winkipop, perhaps just to test the waters, so to speak. Air to carve combos aren't uncommon for Filipe, but by the middle of the heat, his high-8's became throwaway scores. As in, he burned a 8.93 and an 8.17.
Though Conner Coffin and Bede Durbidge - both amazing natural footers suited for Winkipop's perfect righthanders - were also in the heat, Filipe entered a place where he was essentially competing against himself.
As if his 8.93 wasn't sturdy enough, he bagged a 9.70, and in the closing minute of the heat, scored a perfect 10.
"I finished so far down the point I didn't really know what the score was and I asked someone and they were like, ‘It was a 10!' and I was like, ‘WHAT?!'" laughed Toledo. "I wasn't even sure it was going to be a 10 because it was a smaller wave, but I did do everything I could on it. I was just happy to make it through, but also happy to be surfing such perfect waves."
With a 19.70-point heat total, it'll be interesting to see what Toledo's approach will be in Round Three. Perhaps, just surf in a short-arm steamer so he doesn't over-heat?
Never one to shy away from hyperbole, former World Champion Barton Lynch weighed in with this: "He just built the heat so well. He started it good and then just put himself in the position where he could let those fireworks go. He just built and built and let himself go."
"It's as good a performance as I've ever seen, I reckon. It was just incredibly managed, and athletically, it was beyond my comprehension."
A reckoning of a heat, indeed.
Filipe Toledo
Filipe Toledo's unanimous 10-point ride heard around the world at the 2017 Corona Open J-Bay. Rewind and watch one of the greatest waves
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Relive every single 9-point ride surfed at the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach presented by Bonsoy since 2019. Featuring Gabriel Medina, John John
Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach
The one-hour, narrated version of a classic WSL event.
Top scores and waves from 2017.
Top 2017 waves from the champ.
No pressure here, fellas... Men's semifinals of the 2017 Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach.
Last men standing: Finals of the 2017 Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach.