1) Can Filipe Toledo Change The Narrative?
Yes, is the short answer. Now, sure, the fact that it didn’t get over three foot for the whole competition throws a mighty asterisk over his Semifinal finish. Yet the other three Semifinalists were all Chopes standouts telling you that reef knowledge and positioning is still paramount, even when it’s small. Toledo surfed with a new confidence, turned a weakness into a result and extended his lead on the Jeep Leaderboard. You can’t do much more than that.
2) What’s The Chance Of A Wilson and Medina Final?
Well, nil, when Julian choked in Round 2. Medina’s final appearance was however more predictable. Since 2014, he’s made three Finals, won two, and made it to the Semis in the ones he didn’t. It now seems only a matter of time before he takes over Kelly Slater’s mantle as the best competitive surfer at Teahupoo of all time.
3) Do We Need To Talk About Wilko?
Uhm, yes. Wilko’s post Round 2 loss interview was hard to watch as the Aussie was visibly upset as he tried to articulate and or understand just where its all gone wrong. 12 months ago he was wearing the Jeep Leader Jersey, Micro was the new Jack Gibson and Wilko was galloping into one of the sweetest surfing sunsets seen in a while. “Two years ago I got three big results out of the first four and got in the top five,” he said afterwards. “So maybe I could do the reverse this year and end in the top end, or at least in requalification.” The problem is if even he didn’t seem to believe it, should we?
4) Remember Kelly?
Vaguely. He was yet another last minute withdrawal and his will he/won’t he act is starting to get tiresome. It’s got to the point where’s no longer missed in any case. As his surfing stays static or even reverses and Toledo, Medina and Ferreira push the sport forward, whether he turns up or not is becoming increasingly an irrelevance.
5) Can Owen Wright Break His Semifinal Drought?
Yes. Wright’s Final appearance was his first since 2017’s Quik Pro at Snapper and he was 90 seconds away from securing a well-earned win. The only mistake he made all event was taking off on the first wave of the set in that dramatic ending, but even that was a 50/50 throw of the dice. At Chopes not only can you not tell if the second wave of the set is better, you can’t even be sure it’s there at all. The Runner-up finish pushed him up the Jeep Leaderboard to World No. 6, broke his Quarterfinal drought and set up a strong finish to the year.
