John John Florence: A Hawaiian Surfing Legend
Biography
John John Florence, also known as "John John," is a professional surfer from Hawaii. He was born on October 18, 1992, in Honolulu, Hawaii, and was introduced to surfing by his mother, Alexandra, who is also a surfer. Florence started surfing when he was just three years old, and he caught his first wave on a bodyboard. Since then, he has become one of the most dominant surfers of his era, winning back-to-back world titles on the 2016 World Surf League and 2017 World Surf League Men's Championship.
Early Life
John John Florence grew up on the North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii, and started competing in amateur surfing competitions at a young age. At age 13, he competed in the Triple Crown of Surfing, becoming the youngest surfer ever to do so. In 2011, he made it onto the World Surf League (WSL) and came achingly close to winning the world championship title in 2013. However, he finally achieved the feat in 2016, before repeating it in 2017, becoming one of five men ever to go back-to-back in the sport.
Surfing Style and Preferences
John John Florence's favorite place to surf is anywhere within a two-mile radius of his home in Hawaii. His favorite maneuver is getting barreled, and he loves the sound of the hollow, echoey tunnel when he's inside the barrel. He also enjoys the sound of a wave spitting when it breaks. Florence's favorite claim is the "no claim," where he looks at the beach with nothing and gets excited when he hears the crowd erupt.
Florence is known for his laid-back personality and his love of sci-fi movies like Interstellar and Dune. He also enjoys listening to music, and his taste varies depending on his mood. Florence is sponsored by several companies, including Machu Picchu Energy, Stance, Nixon, VEIA Supplies, Clif Bar, Therabody, Yeti, and Pyzel surfboards.
John John's Accomplishment Throughout the Years
At 13 years old, Florence made history as the youngest surfer to compete in the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing, a series of three major big-wave surfing competitions in Hawaii. Prior to this, he had already secured five amateur awards, including 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.
Throughout his career, Florence has faced various injuries, including a broken back, wrist, leg, arm, and an ankle ligament tear. Despite these challenges, he has achieved notable success in the World Surf League (WSL), with rankings such as 34th in 2011, 4th in 2012, 10th in 2013, 3rd in 2014, and 14th in 2015. His crowning achievements include being the WSL Champion in 2016 and 2017. Florence also clinched the Vans World Cup of Surfing in 2011 and 2013, becoming the youngest winner of this prestigious competition.
Florence's exceptional talent and dominance in the sport have been widely recognized. Fellow surfer Mitch Crews described his performance at the 2014 Billabong Pro Teahupoo as making surfing "look stupidly easy," regardless of wave size. Florence's prowess was further acknowledged with the SURFER POLL award in the 2014-2015 year. He has also secured victory in the Volcom Pipe Pro an impressive four times, establishing himself as the ultimate force in the contest.
His triumphs extend to winning the Quiksilver Pro France in October 2014 and the 2015 Volcom Pipe Pro, marking his fourth win in five years at the event. Florence's list of accolades continued to grow, with a significant win at "The Eddie" Quiksilver Big Wave Invitational in February 2016, after a seven-year hiatus of the event. He also claimed the Meo Rip Curl Pro in Portugal in October 2016, securing the WSL World Championship title and becoming the first Hawaiian surfer in over a decade to achieve this feat. His remarkable performance led to a second consecutive world title at Pipeline in December 2017.
John John Florence's collaboration with VEIA
John John Florence has teamed up with VEIA Supplies to develop a range of high-quality surf accessories, including traction pads, leashes, and surf bags. This collaboration is rooted in performance surfing and aims to enhance your surfing, travel, and life experiences by focusing on the details that matter.
VEIA Supplies works closely with John John Florence to develop and test their products, ensuring that they meet the highest standards of performance and durability. From his experiences on the tour, sessions out front, and exotic boat trips, Florence's insights and feedback help shape the design and functionality of their products.
VEIA Supplies is committed to continuous improvement, refining their products based on real-world use and feedback. This iterative process, from design to testing and refinement, ensures that their products are always evolving and adapting to the needs of surfers like John John Florence.
John John Florence's accomplishments and contributions to the sport of surfing have solidified his status as a Hawaiian surfing legend. His dedication to performance and innovation, both in and out of the water, make him a role model for surfers worldwide