Career
At the age of 13, standing at 4'11" and weighing 85 pounds, Florence became the youngest surfer ever to compete in the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing, which consists of three big-wave surfing contests in Hawaii. [2] [7] He had previously won five amateur awards, the 2003 1st NSSA Nationals Open Mini Grom, the 2005 1st NSSA Nationals Open Boy's, the 2005 NSSA Open Boys and the Explorer Menehune Champion. [1] He did not pass the first round, but he did score higher than Shane Dorian, a professional surfer twenty years Florence's senior. [2] Afterwards, Florence said he was "pretty scared," but that he was "happy with how [he] did". [8] When Florence was still a youngster, pro surfer Kelly Slater said, "John John's going to know the waves on North Shore like no one we've ever seen before." [1]
In 2011, Florence suffered a broken back while riding a wave at Banzai Pipeline. [9] He has also had a broken wrist, broken leg, broken arm and ankle ligament tear. [10]
Since joining the World Surf League (WSL) and competing against the best surfers in the world, Florence has ranked 34th in 2011, 4th in 2012, 10th in 2013, 3rd in 2014, and 14th in 2015. Florence was the 2016 and 2017 WSL Champion. [11] He ranked 35th in 2018, 5th in 2019, 11th in 2021, and 12th in 2022.
Florence won the Vans World Cup of Surfing in 2011 and 2013. He is the youngest contestant to have won this honor. [12]
According to surfer Mitch Crews, who witnessed Florence's performance at the 2014 Billabong Pro Teahupoo, "He makes it look stupidly easily no matter how big or small the wave is. He is the man out there, rules the line up and makes everyone look silly. He is the man, and most of us are not." [13] Florence won the prestigious SURFER POLL award in the 2014-2015 year. [14] He has won the Volcom Pipe Pro an astonishing 4 times and has been declared the all-time ruler of this contest. [15] In October 2014, he won the Quiksilver Pro France. [16] In February 2015, Florence won the 2015 Volcom Pipe Pro, which was his fourth win at this event in five years. [17] [18]
On February 25, 2016, Florence won "The Eddie" Quiksilver Big Wave Invitational in memory of Eddie Aikau, at Waimea Bay, the first time the event ran in seven years. [19] He is one of the only nine surfers who have won the event. [20] On October 25, 2016, Florence won the Meo Rip Curl Pro, in Portugal securing the WSL World Championship title. Florence was the first Hawaiian surfer in over a decade to win the title since Andy Irons last won it in 2004. [21]
After a dominating 2016 season, Florence continued to show a strong performance in the 2017 WSL season, alongside his new coach Ross Williams. [22] John John's strong performances all year long made him a clear favorite to take home top honors again. In December 2017, Florence clinched his second straight world title at Pipeline, coming in second in the event to Jeremy Flores. [23]
In December 2019, Florence qualified for the 2020 Olympics despite missing much of the 2019 World Surf League Men's Champion Tour due to an ACL injury. [24] Florence finished the 2019 WSL Tour ranking seventh after competing in 6 of the 11 events. [4] At the Olympics, he was eliminated in the third round by teammate Kolohe Andino. [25]
Florence won the Billabong Pipeline Masters in December 2020, beating Brazilian surfer Gabriel Medina in the finals, but missed most of the 2021 season after incurring an injury at the Boost Mobile Margaret River Pro, finishing 11th at the end of the year. In December 2021, Florence won the Michelob ULTRA Pure Gold Haleiwa Challenger, scoring an excellent heat in the final.
He retained the Triple Crown of Surfing for 2021, in an event held in January 2022, alongside fellow Hawaiian Carissa Moore. In December 2023, Florence won the Vans Pipe Masters, alongside fellow Hawaiian Moana Jones Wong. [26]
In 2024, Florence was the first seed at the conclusion of the WSL season, clinching his third world title at Lower Trestles against Italo Ferreira.
In 2013, Florence changed sponsors, joining Hurley International, after surfing for O'Neill since he was six years old. [27] On January 27, 2020, John John announced he would be leaving Hurley after Hurley's owner, Bluestar Alliance, walked back John John's contract and offered him a $2,000,000 buyout deal. [28] Most recently, Florence partnered with Machu Picchu Energy, a new energy brand that uses natural caffeine and organic ingredients. In his Instagram post, he also mentioned his excitement about the brand's dedication to giving back to the communities by helping kids get outdoors and giving them opportunities to thrive. He is now sponsored by: Machu Picchu Energy, Stance, Futures, Nixon, Dakine, Clif Bar, Electric, Yeti and Pyzel surfboards. In addition to his sponsorships, Florence launched his own apparel and surf brand entitled "Florence Marine X" in 2020 as a joint venture with former Hurley owner Bob Hurley. [29] [30]
Surfing films
Done
With videography by director Blake Vincent Kueny and premiering at the House of Vans, in Brooklyn, on February 23, 2013, Done, Florence's first surfing film, received Surfer Poll 2013 Movie of the Year Award. [31] [32] [33] [34] [35] JJF received Surfer Poll 2013 Best Performance Award for his role in Done. [33] [34] [35]
Departure Delayed, Free to Roam, Begin Again, Again, And Again
Released in 2013, Departure Delayed, Free to Roam, Begin Again, Again, And Again are five shorts from Florence. [36] [37] [38] [39] [40] [41] Begin Again received Surfer Poll 2013 Short of the Year Award. [32] [33] [34] [35]
View from a Blue Moon
Released on December 1, 2015, with videography by Blake Vincent Kueny, narration by John C. Reilly, and the track Seasick Dream by Jack Johnson, View from a Blue Moon is a biography featuring Florence and his friends surfing around the world. [42] [43] On November 11, 2015,View from a Blue Moon, the first surf film shot in 4k, premiered with seven screenings worldwide. [44]
The film was shot using aerial photography provided entirely by helicopters. [44]
Let's Be Frank
In 2016, Florence narrated the film Let's Be Frank, a rockumentary film based on big wave surfer, Frank Solomon. [45] [46]
Twelve On July 8, 2016, Florence released the first episode of his series Twelve. [47] The series consists of 7 episodes, which were released approximately every month, about Florence's quest for the first world title of his career. [47]
