John John Florence

John "John" Alexander Florence
Personal information
Born (1992-10-18) October 18, 1992
Honolulu, Hawai'i, U.S.A
Residence Hale'iwa, Hawai'i
Height 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight 168 lb (76 kg; 12.0 st)
Surfing career
Sponsors Hurley, Pyzel Surfboards, Monster, Stance, Nixon, Spy Optic, Calcario Pirineus

John "John" Alexander Florence (born 18 October 1992)[1][2] is an American professional surfer. He is known as "one of the most dominant Pipe surfers of his era"[3] and has most recently won the title of 2016 World Surf League Men's Champion,[4] thus naming him the best surfer in the world. John John is the first Hawaiian champion since 3 times world champion Andy Irons.

Biography

Born in Honolulu, Hawaii, as the oldest of three children, Florence grew up in Hale'iwa in an ocean-side house at Banzai Pipeline. He resides with his mother, Alexandra, and his two younger brothers Nathan and Ivan.[5] He was introduced to surfing by Alexandra, who is a surfer herself.[1][6] With his mother's help, Florence first rode on a surfboard when he was six-months old,[1] and he was surfing on his own by the age of five.

Career

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. John John Florence is the 2016 WSL Champion.[7]

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][8] 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".[9]

Florence won the prestigious SURFER POLL award in the 2014-2015 year.[10]

JJ has won the Volcom Pipe Pro an astonishing 4 times and has been declared the all-time ruler of this contest. http://www.volcompipepro.com/results/

When Florence was still a young teenager, 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] Florence's signature move is getting deeply barreled at Pipeline.

In 2011, Florence suffered a broken back while riding a wave at Pipeline.[11] He has also had a broken wrist, broken leg, broken arm and ankle ligament tear.[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 Vans World Cup of Surfing in 2011 and 2013. He is the youngest contestant to have won this prestigious honor.

In October 2014, Florence won the Quiksilver Pro France.[14] In February 2015, Florence won the 2015 Volcom Pipe Pro, which was his fourth win at this event in five years.[15][16]

In 2013, Florence changed sponsors, joining Hurley International, after surfing for O'Neill since he was six years old.[17] He also enjoys skateboarding, snowboarding and drawing.[1]

In 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.[18] He is one of the only nine surfers who have won the event.

On May 2016, Florence won the Oi Rio Pro in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil).

On October 25, 2016, Florence won the Meo Rip Curl Pro in Portugal. With the elimination of surfers Gabriel Medina at round three and Jordy Smith out at the semifinals, John clinched the World Title. Nobody has clinched the title in Portugal since Kelly Slater back in 2011.

Films

Done

With videography by director Blake Vincent Kueny and premiering at the House of Vans in Brooklyn on February 23, 2013, Done, JJ Florence's first surfing film, received Surfer Poll 2013 Movie of the Year Award.[19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26] JJF received Surfer Poll 2013 Best Performance Award for his role in Done.[21][22][23][24][25]

Shorts: Departure Delayed, Free to Roam, Begin Again, Again, & Again

Released in 2013, Departure Delayed, Free to Roam, Begin Again, Again, & Again are five shorts from JJ.[27][28][29][30][31][32] Begin Again received Surfer Poll 2013 Short of the Year Award.[20][21][22][23][24][25]

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 bio pic featuring JJ and friends at surfing spots around the world.[33][34] On November 11, 2015, in association with Brain Farm, John's View from a Blue Moon, the first surf film shot in 4k, premiered with seven screenings worldwide:[35][36]

Aerial photography is provided entirely by helicopters, not drones.[36] Although the screening occurred on November 11, 2015, which was the day before the start of the 2015 Hawai'i International Film Festival (HIFF), it was not screened at HIFF which occurred November 12–22, 2015.[37]

Let´s Be Frank

In 2016, Florence was the narrator of the film "Let´s Be Frank". A film of the big wave surfer, Frank Solomon. The film follow the story of the main characters following some clues to figure what kind of person is Frank Solomon. Florence acts like some kind of antagonist narrating the events of the movie with a deeper voice than he has. The movie has been cataloged like not a traditional surf film.[38]

Hurley Presents "Twelve" A New Series From John John Florence

On July 8, 2016, the first episode of this series was released by Hurley International on their YouTube channel. The project is produced by Parallel Sea Productions. The series consists of 7 episodes, which are released approximately every month and includes Florence's quest for the first world title in his career.

The first episode has scenes of Florence competing in the Quiksilver Big Wave Invitational also known as "The Eddie",event that took place on February, 2016, which he won. It also includes scenes of the first events of the Samsung Galaxy Championship Tour that show him losing in the early rounds. The episode ends with Florence talking about going home and working harder to not lose on round three and promising "This is never going to happen again".

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Schreiber, Dave (2 December 2005). "Sports: Up Close: John John Florence". Sports Up Close. St. Petersburg Times. Retrieved 2007-09-20.
  2. 1 2 3 "Stellar Profile: John John Florence". Retrieved 2007-09-20.
  3. ↑ Mull, Jeff (2 February 2015). "Four For Florence". Surfermag.com. Surfer Magazine. Retrieved 4 November 2015.
  4. ↑ http://www.worldsurfleague.com/events/2016/mct/1522/meo-rip-curl-pro-portugal
  5. ↑ "John John Florence - Surf - Lat34.com". Retrieved 2007-11-19.
  6. ↑ "John John Florence - Outside Online". Retrieved 2007-11-19.
  7. ↑ "John John Florence". Worldsurfleague.com. World Surf League. Retrieved 25 October 2016.
  8. ↑ Doherty, Sean (10 December 2011). "THE SURFER PROFILE: JOHN JOHN FLORENCE". Surfermag.com. Surfer Magazine. Retrieved 4 November 2015.
  9. ↑ "Thirteen-Year-Old John John Florence Tackles Huge Haleiwa At Op Pro Haleiwa. - SURF Magazine". Transworld Surf. 17 November 2005. Retrieved 2007-11-19.
  10. ↑ http://www.surfermag.com/surfer-poll/past-winners/#BOeymzTUPjFR6ijw.97
  11. ↑ http://stabmag.com/john-john-breaks-his-back/
  12. ↑ "The 100 Greatest Surfers of All Time". surfeuropemag.com. Surf Europe Magazine. 11 September 2013. Retrieved 4 November 2015.
  13. ↑ Crews, Mitch. "10 THINGS I HATE ABOUT TEAHUPO'O WITH MITCH CREWS". Monster Children News. Monster Children website. Retrieved August 23, 2014. External link in |publisher= (help)
  14. ↑ Mull, Jeff (5 October 2014). "John John Wins Quik Pro". surfermag.com. Surfer Magazine. Retrieved 4 November 2015.
  15. ↑ Mull, Jeff (2 February 2015). "Four for Florence". Surfer Magazine. Surfer Magazine. Retrieved 4 November 2015.
  16. ↑ "John John Florence wins the 2015 Volcom Pipe Pro". Surfertoday.com. Surfertoday.com. 3 February 2015. Retrieved 4 November 2015.
  17. ↑ Weisberg, Zach (January 5, 2013). "John John Florence Joins Hurley". The Inertia. Retrieved November 10, 2015.
  18. ↑ "John John Florence". Worldsurfleague.com. World Surf League. Retrieved 8 May 2016.
  19. ↑ "John John Florence and Vans Premiere "Done" at the House of Vans". SurferMag. February 19, 2013. Retrieved November 10, 2015.
  20. 1 2 "John John Florence". Wedge & Lever. Retrieved November 10, 2015.
  21. 1 2 3 "The Surfer Poll Results: Slater wins his 19th, John Florence dominates the rest". SurferMag. December 7, 2013. Retrieved November 10, 2015.
  22. 1 2 3 "The Surfer Poll Results: Slater wins his 19th, John Florence dominates the rest". SurferMag. December 7, 2013. Retrieved November 10, 2015.
  23. 1 2 3 "2013 Surfer Poll Highlights". SurferMag. December 2013. Retrieved November 10, 2015.
  24. 1 2 3 "The 2013 Surfer Poll: A roundup of the best shots from the biggest night in surf". SurferMag. December 12, 2013. Retrieved November 10, 2015.
  25. 1 2 3 "The 2013 Surfer Poll: A roundup of the best shots from the biggest night in surf with John John finished at No. 2 on the SURFER Poll, but also nabbed a clean three other trophies for Best Short, Movie of the Year, and Best Performance.". SurferMag. December 12, 2013. Retrieved November 10, 2015.
  26. ↑ "The 2013 Surfer Poll: A roundup of the best shots from the biggest night in surf with The most familiar faces of the night, John John Florence and his filmer Blake Kueny.". SurferMag. December 12, 2013. Retrieved November 10, 2015.
  27. ↑ "John John Florence and Friends: Departure Delayed". The Inertia. January 4, 2013. Retrieved November 10, 2015.
  28. ↑ "Departure Delayed". Surfer. January 3, 2013. Retrieved November 10, 2015.
  29. ↑ "Free to Roam". Surfer. April 3, 2013. Retrieved November 10, 2015.
  30. ↑ "Begin Again". Surfer. May 7, 2013. Retrieved November 10, 2015.
  31. ↑ "Again". Surfer. September 19, 2013. Retrieved November 10, 2015.
  32. ↑ "& Again". Surfer. October 7, 2013. Retrieved November 10, 2015.
  33. ↑ Doyle, Patrick (November 3, 2015). "Hear Jack Johnson's Love Letter to Surfing: "Seasick Dream" will appear in new John John Florence film, 'View From a Blue Moon'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved November 10, 2015.
  34. ↑ Haro, Alexander (November 4, 2015). "Listen: Jack Johnson's New Song for John John Florence's View From a Blue Moon". The Inertia. Retrieved November 10, 2015.
  35. ↑ "View from a Blue Moon". viewfromabluemoon.com. November 11, 2015. Retrieved November 10, 2015.
  36. 1 2 Ito, Daniel Ikaika (November 7, 2015). "North Shore pro surfer, John John Florence, premieres bio movie, "View From a Blue Moon"". Hawaii Magazine. Retrieved November 10, 2015.
  37. ↑ "2015 HIFF: View All Films". HIFF. November 12, 2015. Retrieved November 10, 2015.
  38. ↑ "Let´s Be Frank". Let´s Be Frank. September 22, 2016. Retrieved October 25, 2016.
Achievements
Preceded by
Adriano De Souza		 World Surf League Surfing World Champion (men's)
2016 		Succeeded by
Most recent
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