Pakistan, Feb. 13 -- Brazil's reigning surfing world champion Filipe Toledo has announced he is taking a one-year mental health break from competition.

The 28-year-old, who won the World Surf League championship in 2022 and 2023, joins fellow big names in Australia's Stephanie Gilmore and Hawaiian Carissa Moore in taking the year off. Toledo competed in the opening contest in Hawaii, but withdrew from the Pipe Pro after just two waves in the opening heat, citing food poisoning.

However, some critics linked the aerial specialist's absence to his dislike of big, barrelling waves. With the second stop at nearby Sunset Beach getting under way this week, Toledo says he needs some time out. The first Brazilian surfer to claim back-to-back wor...