As a brand new swell began to fill in at the begining of the waiting period, we popped round to Filipe Toledo’s, where his beautiful wife and baby greeted us at the door. We pulled up a seat on his terrace and sat down to discuss his meteoric rise, lessons learned from fatherhood, dealing with criticism, and the secret behind the unrelenting Brazilian storm.
Here’s an extract:
“WL: And you’re a new father, do you feel like you’ve brought any lessons you’ve learned from fatherhood into your surfing?
F: Yeah you know I’ve more patience now, I’ve been thinking a little more, you know before that I was always going for it like: ’oh I’m going to do it, oh I’m going to go out.’ Now I always think about things and focus and maybe I’m quieter I think. It’s been really good for me.
Photo Damien Poullenot // WSL
WL: So it’s no secret that there’s a certain amount of animosity towards Brazilian surfers from other parts of the world, when you moved to America did you experience any of that first hand?
F: Not really, especially not from the Brazilians, people were like, ok yeah you’re doing the right thing, you know. Brazil is not in a good time right now. It’s been really violent, and the government’s been corrupt over there. It’s been tough for us Brazilians. People were like no, you’re doing the right thing go for it, and I had to, because I needed a better life quality for my brothers, for my mum, my dad and even for me, for my career. Speaking English, being around my sponsors, meeting the big brands, the real important people, you know. I was thinking about my family and my career.”
Read the full interview here.
(Hit open in the bottom right to view in glorious full screen mode)
