SAN CLEMENTE, CALIF. — Brazilian surfing champion Filipe Toledo has become the clear frontrunner for Olympic gold at the 2028 Los Angeles Games, following the announcement that the surfing competition will take place at Lower Trestles in California — a wave that perfectly suits his style.
Toledo, 30, is widely considered one of the world’s best surfers in small and soft-breaking waves. While he has faced challenges in heavier surf locations like Tahiti and Western Australia — including a disappointing performance at Margaret River that ended his Paris 2024 medal hopes — the shift to Lower Trestles plays to his strengths.
“To compete at Lowers, where I’ve had a lot of success, is something special,” Toledo said. “It’s a wave that fits my surfing very well. I’ve won two world titles and a regular event there. Of course, there’s still a long road to the Olympics — I need to qualify, and we have several more seasons ahead. But this is a fair and exciting choice.”
Toledo moved to San Clemente from Ubatuba, Brazil, in 2014. He now lives in Orange County with his wife, artist Ananda Marçal, and their children, along with his parents, Ricardo and Mari. The family has built a life in the area, which Toledo calls his second home.
Lower Trestles, known for its long, rippable waves over a cobblestone reef, is where Toledo won back-to-back World Surf League (WSL) titles in 2022 and 2023. Both titles came under the now-retired Finals Day format introduced by former WSL CEO Erik Logan.
Toledo believes the choice of venue will create a strong visual and competitive experience. “The wave allows for great heats,” he explained. “Two or three surfers can catch a lot of waves in a short amount of time. It’s the kind of contest that draws in the audience. People love to watch, just like they did at the Burleigh Heads final. Trestles delivers that same excitement.”
With the 2028 Olympics still three years away, much remains to be decided — including final qualifications and tour results. But as it stands, with the competition set at a wave he knows intimately, Filipe Toledo is now the man to beat.