The 2025 Surf Abu Dhabi Pro took an unexpected turn when Filipe Toledo was eliminated in the Round of 16 after a controversial collision with a photographer.
During his elimination heat against Kanoa Igarashi, Toledo needed a near-perfect 10 score to advance.
The Brazilian paddled into a right-hander and, though struggling with his rhythm, managed to execute a mix of an alley-oop with a Kerrupt flip.
As he set up for his final carving turn, his trajectory intersected with World Surf League (WSL) photographer Thiago Diz, who had drifted too close to the competition zone.
The impact dislodged two of Toledo's fins and nearly resulted in a more serious accident.
Shocked and visibly frustrated, Toledo stormed back to the competitor's area, shouting, "Get this guy out of the water!"
Filipe argued that Diz's positioning had been an ongoing issue, citing previous training sessions where photographers had encroached on the action.
The incident put WSL officials in a tough spot: Should they allow Toledo to re-surf the wave or let the result stand?
After deliberation, head judge Luli Pereira and the competition panel ruled that Toledo's final turn, had it been completed, would have only added between 0.2 and 0.5 points - insufficient to change the outcome of the heat.
The result stood, eliminating Toledo from the event.
Frustration and Reflection
Despite his immediate anger, Toledo quickly shifted his tone in a video posted on social media, emphasizing that no one had been seriously hurt.
"Super unfortunate what happened with the photographer. Thank god he's good; he's okay. I'm okay," he said.
"The impact, which I felt on my board, if it was in his hands, or on his head, or any part of his body, it would've been really, really bad. So, I'm really happy that nobody got hurt."
Toledo also acknowledged Igarashi's performance.
"Shoutout to Kanoa for surfing really well in that heat. He deserved the win; no excuses for that."
The collision ignited discussions about the role and positioning of water photographers in surf competitions.
Wave pools, unlike ocean breaks, offer limited space, making miscalculations in positioning more consequential.
Many surfers and fans online questioned why the WSL's protocols had not better accounted for this risk.
Some, however, criticized Toledo's immediate reaction.
A viral debate emerged, comparing his response to past instances of sportsmanship in surfing, notably Julian Wilson's selfless reaction when Mick Fanning encountered a shark at J-Bay in 2015.
Wilson immediately paddled toward Fanning, prioritizing safety over competition.
Some critics felt Toledo should have first checked on Diz before voicing his frustrations to the officials.
Photographer Thiago Diz, though shaken, did not publicly blame Toledo.
"My most sincere apologies to Filipe, his team, the WSL and community, and everyone that loves surf," said Diz.
"Despite all instructions, I made a wrong decision today."
Later, a video surfaced showing the two reconciling behind the scenes.
Yet, the incident left a lingering question about whether the WSL should have allowed a re-surf, given the external interference.
Toledo's father, Ricardo Toledo, was vocal on social media, questioning the WSL's decision.
"I just don't understand WSL not recognizing what happened and, at least, deciding to offer it another wave, as it has happened countless times on the tour," he stated.
For the WSL, the incident serves as a wake-up call for better coordination between athletes and photographers in wave pool contests.
The WSL Rulebook should also revisit and clarify its guidelines regarding photographers' positioning in competitive lineups and in the waves to ensure such an accident doesn't happen again.
Surf Abu Dhabi Pro was the first-ever WSL Championship Tour (CT) event in the Middle East.
Words by Luís MP | Founder of SurferToday.com
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