Filipe Toledo (BRA), 18, reigned supreme on the final day of the Vans US Open of Surfing, winning the ASP Qualifications Series (QS) Prime event in an all-Brazilian Final over Willian Cardoso, 28.
The battle for the crown saw both Toledo and Cardoso rely on their respective strengths to achieve excellence early in the heat. Toledo took to the air, launching an 8.73 to start while Cardoso collected a 9.03 for three big backhand hooks. In the end, Toledo's air game carried him through to the end. He locked into another right, lofting an additional aerial combo for an 8.73 and the Vans US Open of Surfing win.
Filipe Toledo honed in on his air game to defeat Willian Cardoso in the US Open Finals. - WSL / Rowland/ ASP Handout
“I'm super stoked and excited,†said Toledo. “It was an amazing heat against Willian (Cardoso). He's been surfing really well the whole competition. I just turned my game to the air game so I could do what I love to do and it worked. I had to surf though a lot of pain with my ankle [following a sprain in Africa] and just put it out of my mind. I felt comfortable in these conditions. I won the junior in 2011 and was just feeling confident throughout the week.â€
Cardoso surfed with unmatched power despite the smaller conditions on offer in Huntington Beach, with the gentle giant demolishing the competition en route to the Final. In the end, however, Cardoso was unable to match Toledo's aerial attack and leaves with a runner-up finish overall. Cardoso's second-place finish moves the Brazilian to No. 12 on the ASP QS.
“I'm really happy with the result,†said Cardoso. “It's a nice event. I've been surfing well all month and everything felt right but until now I haven't got the result. This has given me confidence for the rest of the year. It's amazing to be here and it will really help me at the other events.â€
The next ASP Prime event is the Sata Airlines Pro in the Azores Islands, which holds an event window of September 2 to 7, 2014.
Toledo Tops Cardoso, Claims Vans US Open Prime
WSL
Filipe Toledo (BRA), 18, reigned supreme on the final day of the Vans US Open of Surfing, winning the ASP Qualifications Series (QS) Prime event in an all-Brazilian Final over Willian Cardoso, 28.
The battle for the crown saw both Toledo and Cardoso rely on their respective strengths to achieve excellence early in the heat. Toledo took to the air, launching an 8.73 to start while Cardoso collected a 9.03 for three big backhand hooks. In the end, Toledo's air game carried him through to the end. He locked into another right, lofting an additional aerial combo for an 8.73 and the Vans US Open of Surfing win.
“I'm super stoked and excited,†said Toledo. “It was an amazing heat against Willian (Cardoso). He's been surfing really well the whole competition. I just turned my game to the air game so I could do what I love to do and it worked. I had to surf though a lot of pain with my ankle [following a sprain in Africa] and just put it out of my mind. I felt comfortable in these conditions. I won the junior in 2011 and was just feeling confident throughout the week.â€
Cardoso surfed with unmatched power despite the smaller conditions on offer in Huntington Beach, with the gentle giant demolishing the competition en route to the Final. In the end, however, Cardoso was unable to match Toledo's aerial attack and leaves with a runner-up finish overall. Cardoso's second-place finish moves the Brazilian to No. 12 on the ASP QS.
“I'm really happy with the result,†said Cardoso. “It's a nice event. I've been surfing well all month and everything felt right but until now I haven't got the result. This has given me confidence for the rest of the year. It's amazing to be here and it will really help me at the other events.â€
The next ASP Prime event is the Sata Airlines Pro in the Azores Islands, which holds an event window of September 2 to 7, 2014.
Filipe Toledo
Former back-to-back World Champ Filipe Toledo put on a show at Surf Abu Dhabi, throwing down his trademark speed, power, and variety in one
Take a look back at the ultimate highlight package from Gabriel Medina, Tatiana Weston-Webb, Filipe Toledo, Italo Ferreira, and Yago Dora
Featuring Barron Mamiya, Leonardo Fioravanti, Italo Ferreira, Caitlin Simmers, Molly Picklum, Tyler Wright, Ian Gouveia, Kelly Slater, John
The 2022 and 2023 World Champ, Filipe Toledo, showed he's ready to send it after reemerging from a Backdoor drainer to post an 8.00 and
Two-time WSL Champion Filipe Toledo's highly-anticipated return from his hiatus takes him past the Elimination Round at Pipe with Brazil's
Vans US Open of Surfing
ASP's Pied Piper of placings Al Hunt rings in for a rankings shakeup following the Vans US Open of Surfing.
Filipe Toledo takes out the prestigious ASP Prime event in Huntington Beach.
Check out the best photos from the climax of women's WCT and men's Prime events in Surf City.
After just over a week of intense competition, Quarterfinalists have emerged at the 2014 Vans US Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach..
Preliminary rounds of the men's QS event conclude, leaving just eight surfers still in contention.