Hawaii's John John Florence wins first ASP tour surfing contest

AP Photo/Felipe Dana

U.S. surfer John John Florence, of Hawaii, raises a Hawaiian flag after winning the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) Billabong Rio Pro surfing competition on Barra da Tijuca beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil today.

AP Photo/Felipe Dana

Hawaii surfer John John Florence competes to win the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) Billabong Rio Pro surfing competition off Barra da Tijuca beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Wednesday.

AP Photo/Felipe Dana

U.S. surfer John John Florence, from Hawaii, celebrates after winning the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) Billabong Rio Pro surfing competition off Barra da Tijuca beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Wednesday, May 16, 2012.

AP Photo/Felipe Dana

U.S.' surfer John John Florence, of Hawaii, right, celebrates winning the final, over Australia's Joel Parkinson, left, at the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) Billabong Rio Pro surfing competition on Barra da Tijuca beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Wednesday.

AP Photo/Felipe Dana

Australia's Joel Parkinson competes during the final of the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) Billabong Rio Pro surfing competition off Barra da Tijuca beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Wednesday, May 16, 2012. Parkinson finished in second place.

AP Photo/Matt Dunbar

In this image released by the Association of Surfing Professionals, Joel Parkinson, of Australia, competes at the Billabong Rio Pro surfing competition in Rio de Janiero, Wednesday May 16, 2012.

AP Photo/Felipe Dana

Australia's Mick Fanning competes during the quarterfinals of the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) Billabong Rio Pro surfing competition off Barra da Tijuca beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Wednesday, May 16, 2012.

AP Photo/Felipe Dana

Brazil's Adriano de Souza 'Mineirinho' competes during the quarterfinals of the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) Billabong Rio Pro surfing competition off Barra da Tijuca beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Wednesday, May 16, 2012.

AP Photo/Felipe Dana

A surfer exits the water on Barra da Tijuca beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Wednesday, May 16, 2012. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)

Hawaii surfer John John Florence, 19, won his first Association of Surfing Professionals World Championship Tour event, taking the Billabong Rio Pro today over Austrailian Joel Parkinson in barreling three-to-four foot waves at Barra da Tijuca. Brazil.

Florence, in his first year on the ASP tour, beat Australians Julian Wilson and Josh Kerr in earlier heats before defeating Parkinson in the final. Parkinson is currently the top surfer for the ASP World Title.

“This is the best feeling in the world,” Florence said in a news release. “I had that bad heat at Arpoador to start and we had a couple of lay days and I had to just sit and think about it. I can’t even believe this right now. I’m in shock. I was just sticking to my game plan and not thinking about the other guys. I’m so happy right now.”

Florence, ranked sixth on the ASP World Title Tour, will compete next at events in Fiji and Tahiti.

“This helps my confidence so much,” Florence said. “I have a lot of confidence going into events with barreling waves like Pipe. Obviously I have a lot of confidence in barrels from my experience at Pipe, but coming here, I wasn’t expecting a big result. I was just hoping to make a few heats.”