The Surf Abu Dhabi Pro wasn’t just a contest—it was a test. The WSL’s first Championship Tour (CT) event in the Middle East, held at Hudayriyat Island, brought perfect mechanical waves but also a whirlwind of surprises. From Filipe Toledo’s wild collision to wind-blown struggles and unexpected losses, here’s everything that went down.
Legs on Fire: The Wave Pool Burn
The Abu Dhabi pool delivered the same wave, every time. Long, perfect, and begging for turns. But that’s where it hurt the most. By the end of their rides, surfers’ legs were cooked—shaky, wobbly, and spent. The wave pool demanded endurance, and it showed. Turns out, perfection burns.
Toledo vs. The Photographer
The wildest moment? Filipe Toledo crashing into a photographer—mid-wave. It happened on his final turn against Kanoa Igarashi. The judges didn’t call for a re-surf because the wave was “complete,” arguing the turn wouldn’t have improved his score. But the damage was done—both to his magic board and his mindset.
Toledo switched from his trusted quad to a thruster for his last attempt, but it wasn’t enough to turn the heat.
Nature Crashes the Pool Party
Wave pools are supposed to be predictable. But Abu Dhabi reminded everyone: nature still gets the final say. Strong winds swept through the arena, warping wave shapes and killing sections – especially on the rights. Surfers struggled to adapt, and the pool turned from a perfect oasis into a wobbly skate park. The wind won, and the surfers wiped.
Pros Falling—A Lot
It wasn’t just one or two—everyone was falling. In a wave pool known for consistency, the best surfers in the world were blowing turns, mistiming sections, and coming unstuck. Was it the wind? The pressure? Or something else entirely? Whatever it was, it felt like we saw more falls than ever before—proof that even in a perfect wave, nothing is guaranteed.
The Defeats and the Reactions
This event wasn’t just about who won—it was about how they lost.
Griffin Colapinto came in with high hopes after winning last year. But this time, it wasn’t his day. He fell early, but instead of sulking, he stayed true to himself—smiling, joking, and appreciating the ride. Griffin loses how he surfs: with style.
Filipe Toledo’s loss came with chaos. A collision with a photographer, a broken magic board, and a forced board change that threw him off his game. He was furious—at the situation, at the call, at everything. But when it was over, he went straight to Kanoa Igarashi to congratulate him. Later, he hugged the photographer, who felt awful about the crash. Toledo’s heat was a loss. His reaction wasn’t.
Molly Picklum had to face her friend Caitlin Simmers in the final. She lost. Again. But if you watched her after, you wouldn’t know it. Laughing, joking, and celebrating her friend’s win like it was her own. Molly knows that sometimes losing feels pretty close to winning.
Boring, But Not Boring
Some people say wave pools are boring. Same wave, every time. Predictable. Was it repetitive? Sure. Was it boring? Not even close. The pool didn’t produce a skatepark session or a trick show—it produced tension. Waves were missed. Tempers flared. Pressure built. And even with the same wave on repeat, nothing felt the same twice—except Italo’s alley-oops, which launched him to a solid victory.
Final Word
The Surf Abu Dhabi Pro gave us everything: drama, heartbreak, wipeouts, and class acts in defeat. It reminded us that surfing isn’t just about winning—it’s about how you lose, how you adapt, and how you come back.
The CT rolls on to Portugal next. But after Abu Dhabi, one thing’s clear: Perfect waves don’t mean perfect endings. And that’s exactly why we watch.
