Projections of John John Florence as a can’t-miss world champion were right on target, and the “kid” has made it come to pass.
Now 24, the young man from Haleiwa who was already on top of the surfing world in all but title is the new World Surf League champion.
Florence didn’t bother to wait for a dramatic season-ending clincher at Pipeline. Instead, he did it on Tuesday, nearly two months early and not on his home turf at the world-famous bombing reef break. The scene was Peniche, Portugal, in 4- to 6-foot surf at a beach break called Supertubos.
As of Tuesday afternoon Hawaii time, Florence was on his way home to Hawaii and looking forward to celebrating with his family, who watched his latest high-charged exploits live online. That includes his mom, Alex, also known as Mom John, who guided her son at a young age to the ocean, which he took to like a natural sea creature.
Meant to be? The surfing press’ headlines reflect just that: “Destiny Attained: Florence Captures His Crown,” could be found on the WSL home page. Another one from the same site: “Florence Assumes His Throne.”
Those closest to the scene saw it coming for years, but that doesn’t mean the ascension was easy.
“My whole life has gone into this, everything I’ve done, but just this year especially, learning so much about competitive surfing, focusing completely on it and having so much help and support, it’s been amazing,” Florence said at his news conference after winning the second-to-last event on the WSL tour, the MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal, which gave him enough ratings points to clinch the tour’s top spot. “The title was my goal this year, so at this point I’m just going to go out and have fun.”
Having fun might mean he can pull off maneuvers — like the full-rotation alley-oop for a 9.5-point ride in the event final victory over 23-year-old WSL rookie Conner Coffin of Santa Barbara, Calif. — without the intense pressure of trying to win a heat or a contest now that the tour championship is secure.
Not that Florence won’t be trying to win the three Vans Triple Crown of Surfing events and his third overall Triple Crown title on Oahu’s North Shore this winter. The new world champion will be one of the favorites. He was the Triple Crown champion in 2011 and 2013.
Florence, who is the first from Hawaii to win the men’s world title since the late Andy Irons in 2004, was a bit surprised he wrapped it up this early.
“I was expecting it to go to Hawaii and I was just trying to keep surfing through heats,” he added. “I have so many people to thank for this — my mom, my whole family, all my friends back home, everyone here on tour with us this whole year, oh my gosh.”
No doubt, Florence will especially be gunning for a victory in the tour’s season-ending contest, the Billabong Pipe Masters, which he has yet to win despite being regarded as a dominant competitor at the place that offers some of the best tubes on the planet.
A competitor on the championship tour since 2011, Florence’s previous highest season-ending rankings were fourth place in 2012 and third in 2014. This season, he won the Oi Rio Pro in Rio de Janeiro, took second in the Billabong Pro Tahiti and the J-Bay Open in South Africa, and placed third in the Quiksilver Pro France.
Florence pocketed $100,00 for the Rip Curl win and has more than $1.5 million in career earnings.
The WSL women’s world title is a two-person race between Australia’s Tyler Wright and Courtney Conlogue of Santa Ana, Calif., and it will be decided at the season-ending Maui Women’s Pro at Honolua Bay beginning Nov. 23. Honolulu’s Carissa Moore, who won her third world title last year, is No. 3 in the rankings but out of the title chase.
Hawaii’s surfing world champions
Men
2016—John John Florence (WSL)
2004—Andy Irons (ASP)
2003—Andy Irons (ASP)
2002—Andy Irons (ASP)
2000—Sunny Garcia (ASP)
1993—Derek Ho (ASP)
1972—Jimmy Blears (ISF)
1968—Fred Hemmings (ISF)
Women
2015—Carissa Moore (WSL)
2013—Carissa Moore (ASP)
2011—Carissa Moore (ASP)
1981—Margo Oberg (IPS)
1980—Margo Oberg (IPS)
1979—Lynn Boyer (IPS)
1978—Lynn Boyer (IPS)
1977—Margo Oberg (IPS)
