FILE PHOTO: Filipe Toledo of Brazil surfs to win his semi-final of the men's World Surf League Rio Pro championship in Rio de Janeiro May 17, 2015. REUTERS/Sergio Moraes/File Photo
Toledo is a long way from home in California and from Margaret River, Australia, where his rivals are slugging it out at the fifth event of a professional tour where he made his name as the fastest surfer in the world."I'm in a great place right now," he said."I'm enjoying my family, enjoying my kids being home, being a normal parent... a human being. It just feels great.
He finished in last place after catching two poor waves, earning a combined total of 1.77 points out of a possible 20. He withdrew from the contest, citing food poisoning. Taking a year off will allow him to come back stronger and could mean he can prolong his career for another seven years, he said. The tournament will be held at Tahiti's Teahupo'o, a powerful tubing wave site where Toledo has struggled on his backhand.