John "John John" Alexander Florence | |
---|---|
Personal information | |
Born | Honolulu, Hawai'i | October 18, 1992
Residence | Hale'iwa, Hawai'i |
Height | 6 ft 1 in (185 cm) |
Weight | 185 lb (84 kg) |
Surfing career | |
Best year | 1st: 2016, 2017 - WSL World Champion |
Sponsors | Machu Picchu Energy, Stance, Nixon, VEIA Supplies, Clif Bar, Therabody, Yeti and Pyzel surfboards |
Major achievements |
|
Surfing specifications | |
Stance | Regular (natural foot) |
Website | www |
John "John John" Alexander Florence (born October 18, 1992) [1] [2] is an American professional surfer. He is known as "one of the most dominant pipe surfers of his era" [3] and won back-to-back world titles on the 2016 World Surf League and 2017 World Surf League Men's Championship Tour. [4] He is the first Hawaii-born surfer to win back-to-back world titles since the late Andy Irons. [4] In 2019, Florence qualified to represent the United States at the 2020 Summer Olympics in surfing.
Born in Honolulu, Hawaii, the oldest of three brothers. Florence grew up in Hale'iwa in an ocean-side house at Banzai Pipeline. He was introduced to surfing by his mother, Alexandra, who is a surfer herself. [1] [5] With his mother's help, Florence first rode on a surfboard when he was six-months old, and he was surfing on his own by the age of five. [1] He also enjoys skateboarding, snowboarding and drawing. [1]
He was named after John F. Kennedy, Jr., who was dubbed "John John" by the media while his father was president. [6]
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]
In December 2020, Florence won the Billabong Pipeline Masters, beating Brazilian surfer Gabriel Medina in the finals.
After getting injured at the Boost Mobile Margaret River Pro, Florence missed the majority of the 2021 season, 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.
In January 2022, he won the Triple Crown of Surfing for a second year in a row, alongside fellow Hawaiian Carissa Moore.
In December 2023, Florence won the Vans Pipe Masters, alongside fellow Hawaiian Moana Jones Wong. [26]
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]
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]
Tournament | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2021 | 2022 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast | - | 13th | 13th | 25th | 13th | 5th | 3rd | 25th | 3rd | - | 9th |
Rip Curl Pro | - | 9th | INJ | 3rd | 13th | 13th | 3rd | 13th | 1st | - | 5th |
Margaret River Pro | - | - | - | 13th | 2nd | 13th | 1st | 13th | 1st | INJ | 2nd |
Rio Pro | - | 1st | INJ | 13th | 9th | 1st | 13th | 9th | 5th | - | INJ |
Corona Bali Protected | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 13th | 17th | - | - |
Fiji Pro | - | 5th | 3rd | 5th | INJ | 5th | 13th | - | - | - | - |
J-Bay Open | - | - | - | 13th | INJ | 2nd | 5th | INJ | INJ | - | INJ |
Billabong Pro Teahupoo | - | 3rd | 5th | 3rd | 13th | 2nd | 5th | INJ | INJ | - | INJ |
Hurley Pro at Trestles | 13th | 5th | 25th | 2nd | 25th | 13th | 3rd | - | - | - | - |
Quiksilver Pro France | 25th | 3rd | 5th | 1st | 5th | 3rd | 3rd | INJ | INJ | - | - |
MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal | 9th | 5th | 9th | 3rd | 13th | 1st | 5th | INJ | INJ | - | 3rd |
Billabong Pipeline Masters | 5th | 13th | 2nd | 5th | 9th | 5th | 2nd | INJ | 5th | 1st | 5th |
Oakley Pro Bali | - | - | 9th | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
O'Neill Coldwater Classic | - | 25th | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Rip Curl Search | 25th | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Rip Curl Newcastle Cup | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 17th | - |
Rip Curl Narrabeen Classic | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 9th | - |
Rip Curl Rottnest Search presented by Corona | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | INJ | - |
Surf Ranch Open | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | INJ | - | INJ | - |
Hurley Pro Sunset Beach | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 17th |
Quiksilver Pro G-Land | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 9th |
Surf City El Salvador Pro | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | INJ |
Rank | 34th | 4th | 10th | 3rd | 14th | 1st | 1st | 35th | 5th | 11th | 12th |
Earnings | $47.250 | $211.250 | $117.500 | $266.500 | $131.500 | $406.000 | $181.250 | $59.200 | $268.500 | $106.000 |
Florence is married to Lauryn Cribb. [48]
His brother, Nathan, competes on the Big Wave World Tour after qualifying in 2018. [49]
Robert Kelly Slater is an American professional surfer, best known for being crowned World Surf League champion a record 11 times. Slater is widely regarded as the greatest professional surfer of all time, and holds 56 Championship Tour victories. Slater is also the oldest surfer still active on the World Surf League, winning his 8th Billabong Pipeline Masters title at age 49.
Big wave surfing is a discipline within surfing in which experienced surfers paddle into, or are towed into, waves which are at least 20 feet high, on surf boards known as "guns" or towboards. Sizes of the board needed to successfully surf these waves vary by the size of the wave as well as the technique the surfer uses to reach the wave. A larger, longer board allows a rider to paddle fast enough to catch the wave and has the advantage of being more stable, but it also limits maneuverability and surfing speed.
Philip Andrew Irons was an American professional surfer. Irons began surfing with his brother Bruce on the shallow and dangerous waves of Kauai, Hawaii, before being spotted by a local surfboard brand and flown to North Shore, Oahu, Hawaii, to compete and develop his skill.
The Banzai Pipeline, or simply Pipeline or Pipe, is a surf reef break located in Hawaii, off Ehukai Beach Park in Pupukea on O'ahu's North Shore. A reef break is an area in the ocean where waves start to break once they reach the shallows of a reef. Pipeline is known for huge waves that break in shallow water just above a sharp and cavernous reef, forming large, hollow, thick curls of water that surfers can tube ride. There are three reefs at Pipeline in progressively deeper water farther out to sea that activate according to the increasing size of approaching ocean swells.
Bruce Irons is an American regularfoot professional surfer from Hanalei, Kauai and is often regarded as one of the tuberiders of all time. He is the younger brother of three-time world champion Andy Irons.
Makuakai (Makua) Rothman is an American big wave rider, professional surfer and musician. On February 28, 2015, he was crowned the 2015 Big Wave World Champion in the World Surf League's (WSL) first sanctioned Big Wave World Tour (BWWT).
Peter Mel, is an American professional surfer. Mel began his surfing life in Capitola, California before moving on to Santa Cruz. He is known as a 'big wave' surfer and son of John Mel, a four time surfing National Champion.
James Duncan O'Brien is a professional surfer from the North Shore, Hawaii.
Carissa Kainani Moore is a Hawaiian American Olympian, world champion surfer and activist. She was the first-ever winner of the Olympic Gold Medal in women's short board surfing in 2020. She was also the 2011, 2013, 2015, 2019 and 2021 World Surf League WSL Women's World Tour Champion. Moore is the first surfer in history to win a WSL world title and the Olympic title in the same year.
Adriano "Mineirinho" de Souza is a Brazilian professional surfer and also the 2015 WSL World Champion. He has been competing on the World Surf League Men's World Tour since 2005.
Coco Malia Camille Hapaikekoa Ho is a professional Hawaiian surfer born in Honolulu, Hawaii. She began surfing at 7 years old, following in the footsteps of her family.
Gabriel Medina Pinto Ferreira is a Brazilian professional surfer who won the 2014, 2018 and 2021 WSL World Championships. With 18 WSL Championship Tour (CT) event wins and 31 Final appearances under his belt, Medina is one of the most experienced surfers when it comes to producing the best surfing under pressure. Medina is 2nd only to Kelly Slater for the most World Titles among surfers currently on the men's CT.
Courtney Conlogue is an American professional surfer. She was born in Santa Ana, California. Courtney learned to surf at the age of 4. In 2004 when she was 11, Conlogue was the youngest athlete to be selected to the USA Junior Surf Team. She went on to achieve 11th place in the 2005 ISA World Junior Surfing Championships. By the time she was 14, she had won a surfing gold medal as a member of the U.S. Team in the X Games. When she was 17 she won the biggest competition in the US at the Hurley U.S. Open of Surfing, held at her home break in Huntington Beach, California.
Tatiana Guimaraes Weston-Webb dos Santos is a Brazilian–American surfer based in Kauai, Hawaii. She was the only rookie on the WCT in 2015. Weston-Webb wears jersey number 9, and her 2016 'CT rank is number 4. She was a competitor in the 2020 Summer Olympics, competing for Brazil.
Michel Bourez is a French professional surfer.
Barron Mamiya is an American junior professional surfer from Hawaii. He first competed in the Junior World Surf League in 2012 at age 11 and won the Men's Pro Junior Vans US Open of Surfing in 2018.
The 2019 World Surf League was the competition series hosted by the World Surf League, the global championship body for competitive surfing. The 2019 World Surf League consisted of the Championship Tour, the Qualifying Series, Big Wave Tour, Longboard Tour, Junior Tour, and other specialty tours and events such as the Vans Triple Crown.
Jack Robinson is an Australian professional surfer who competes on the World Surf League Men's Championship Tour. He was crowned surfer of the year twice at the Australian Surfing Awards in 2020 and 2021. Robinson is often considered to one of the best barrel riders of the current days. Robinson did his best WSL performance in 2022 where he finished 3rd on the final rankings.
Moanalani Jones Wong is an American surfer who has been called the "Queen of Pipeline".
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)