John John Florence

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.{{cite web |url=http://www.outsideonline.com/outdoor-adventure/water-activities/surfing/Over-His-Head.html |title=John John Florence - Outside Online |date=March 2006 |access-date=November 19, 2007}} 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. He also enjoys skateboarding, snowboarding and drawing.

He was named after John F. Kennedy, Jr., who was dubbed "John John" by the media while his father was president.{{cite news |title=Things you probably didn't know about John John Florence |url=https://www.surfertoday.com/surfing/things-you-probably-didnt-know-about-john-john-florence |access-date=5 December 2019 |work=Surfer Today |language=en-us}}

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.{{cite web |last1=Doherty |first1=Sean |title=THE SURFER PROFILE: JOHN JOHN FLORENCE |url=http://www.surfermag.com/features/the-surfer-profile-john-john-florence/#IHpVpjReQOHZWI8g.97 |website=Surfermag.com |publisher=Surfer Magazine |access-date=November 4, 2015 |date=December 10, 2011}} 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. He did not pass the first round, but he did score higher than Shane Dorian, a professional surfer twenty years Florence's senior. Afterwards, Florence said he was "pretty scared," but that he was "happy with how [he] did".{{cite news |title=Thirteen-Year-Old John John Florence Tackles Huge Haleiwa At Op Pro Haleiwa. - SURF Magazine |url=http://www.transworldsurf.com/surf/news/article/0,,1131781,00.html |publisher=Transworld Surf |date=November 17, 2005 |access-date=November 19, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071109120959/http://www.transworldsurf.com/surf/news/article/0,,1131781,00.html |archive-date=November 9, 2007 |url-status=dead}} 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."

In 2011, Florence suffered a broken back while riding a wave at Banzai Pipeline.{{Cite web |url=http://stabmag.com/john-john-breaks-his-back |title=John John Breaks His Back |date=February 6, 2011 |website=Stab Magazine |access-date=July 12, 2012 |archive-date=July 11, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120711062759/http://stabmag.com/john-john-breaks-his-back/ |url-status=dead }} He has also had a broken wrist, broken leg, broken arm and ankle ligament tear.{{cite web |title=The 100 Greatest Surfers of All Time |url=http://surfeuropemag.com/features/the-100-greatest-surfers-of-all-time.html/79#4K0z1PTZP5doVJPX.97 |website=surfeuropemag.com |publisher=Surf Europe Magazine |access-date=November 4, 2015 |date=September 11, 2013}}

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.{{cite web |title=John John Florence |url=http://www.worldsurfleague.com/athletes/199/john-john-florence |website=Worldsurfleague.com |publisher=World Surf League |access-date=October 25, 2016}} 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.{{Cite web |title=Past Vans Triple Crown of Surfing Champions - 2019 Vans Triple Crown of Surfing |url=https://www.vanstriplecrownofsurfing.com/2019/news-article/past-triple-crown-of-surfing-champions-2019 |access-date=August 7, 2020 |website=Vans Triple Crown of Surfing 2019}}

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."{{cite web |url=http://www.monsterchildren.com/20605/ |title=10 THINGS I HATE ABOUT TEAHUPO'O WITH MITCH CREWS |publisher=Monster Children |work=Monster Children News |access-date=August 23, 2014 |last=Crews |first=Mitch |archive-date=August 22, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140822044925/http://www.monsterchildren.com/20605/ |url-status=dead }} Florence won the prestigious SURFER POLL award in the 2014-2015 year.{{Cite web |url=https://www.surfer.com/ |title=SURFER Magazine - Surf News, Fantasy Surfer, Photos, Video and Forecasting |website=SURFER Magazine}} He has won the Volcom Pipe Pro an astonishing 4 times and has been declared the all-time ruler of this contest.{{cite web |access-date=February 2, 2016 |archive-date=February 22, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160222165624/http://www.volcompipepro.com/results/ |url=http://www.volcompipepro.com/results/ |title=Results - - Volcom Pipe Pro 2016 Surf Competition |url-status=dead}} In October 2014, he won the Quiksilver Pro France.{{cite web |last1=Mull |first1=Jeff |title=John John Wins Quik Pro |url=http://www.surfermag.com/features/john-john-wins-quik-pro-france/#0LHiC0u0wBTEbDUU.97 |website=surfermag.com |publisher=Surfer Magazine |access-date=November 4, 2015 |date=October 5, 2014}} In February 2015, Florence won the 2015 Volcom Pipe Pro, which was his fourth win at this event in five years.{{cite web |last1=Mull |first1=Jeff |title=Four for Florence |url=http://www.surfermag.com/features/john-john-florence-volcom-pipe-pro/#jFEt6sZrgE9fAGZH.97 |website=Surfer Magazine |access-date=November 4, 2015 |date=February 2, 2015}}{{cite web |title=John John Florence wins the 2015 Volcom Pipe Pro |url=https://www.surfertoday.com/surfing/john-john-florence-wins-the-2015-volcom-pipe-pro |website=Surfertoday.com |access-date=November 4, 2015 |date=February 3, 2015}}

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.{{cite web |title=John John Florence |url=http://www.worldsurfleague.com/posts/182808/instant-classic-john-john-florence-takes-the-eddie |website=Worldsurfleague.com |date=February 25, 2016 |publisher=World Surf League |access-date=May 8, 2016}} He is one of the only ten surfers who have won the event.{{Cite web |last=Hernandez |first=Juan |title=Meet the 9 Men Who Have Won the Eddie |url=https://www.theinertia.com/surf/meet-the-9-men-who-have-won-the-eddie/ |access-date=August 7, 2020 |website=The Inertia |date=February 10, 2016 |language=en-US}} 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.{{Cite magazine |author= |title=John John Florence wins '16 World Surf League |url=https://www.si.com/edge/2016/10/25/john-john-florence-wins-world-surf-league-title |access-date=2020-08-07 |magazine=Sports Illustrated |language=en-us}}

After a dominating 2016 season, Florence continued to show a strong performance in the 2017 WSL season, alongside his new coach Ross Williams.{{Cite web |date=May 7, 2017 |title=In The Hot Seat: Ross Williams |url=https://www.surfer.com/features/in-the-hot-seat-ross-williams/ |access-date=August 7, 2020 |website=SURFER Magazine |language=en-US}} 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.{{Cite web |date=December 21, 2017 |title=Despite winning back-to-back titles, John John Florence won't call himself the best surfer in the world |url=https://ftw.usatoday.com/2017/12/john-john-florence-pipe-masters-2017-surfing |access-date=August 7, 2020 |website=For The Win |language=en}}

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.{{cite web |last1=McDougall |first1=Chrös |title=SURFER JOHN JOHN FLORENCE, SUPPOSEDLY OUT FOR THE SEASON, COMES BACK AND CLAIMS OLYMPIC BERTH |url=https://www.teamusa.org/News/2019/December/19/Surfer-John-John-Florence-Supposedly-Out-For-The-Season-Comes-Back-And-Claims-Olympic-Berth |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191220010417/https://www.teamusa.org/News/2019/December/19/Surfer-John-John-Florence-Supposedly-Out-For-The-Season-Comes-Back-And-Claims-Olympic-Berth |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 20, 2019 |website=teamusa.org}} Florence finished the 2019 WSL Tour ranking seventh after competing in 6 of the 11 events. At the Olympics, he was eliminated in the third round by teammate Kolohe Andino.{{cite web |title=Surfing - ANDINO Kolohe vs FLORENCE John John - Round 3 - Heat 2 Results |url=https://olympics.com/tokyo-2020/olympic-games/en/results/surfing/results-men-8fnl-000200-.htm |work=Tokyo 2020 Olympics |access-date=July 27, 2021 |archive-date=July 27, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210727152734/https://olympics.com/tokyo-2020/olympic-games/en/results/surfing/results-men-8fnl-000200-.htm |url-status=dead }}

Florence won the Billabong Pipeline Masters in December 2020, beating Brazilian surfer Gabriel Medina in the finals, but missed most of the 2021 season after incurring an injury at the Boost Mobile Margaret River Pro, 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.

He retained the Triple Crown of Surfing for 2021, in an event held in January 2022, alongside fellow Hawaiian Carissa Moore. In December 2023, Florence won the Vans Pipe Masters, alongside fellow Hawaiian Moana Jones Wong.{{Cite web |last=read |first=Events·2 min |title=John John Florence and Moana Jones Wong Win the 2023 Vans Pipe Masters |url=https://freesurfmagazine.com/john-john-florence-and-moana-jones-wong-win-the-2023-vans-pipe-masters/ |access-date=2023-12-19 |website=Freesurf Magazine |language=en-US}}

In 2024, Florence was the first seed at the conclusion of the WSL season, clinching his third world title at Lower Trestles against Italo Ferreira.

On 21 January 2025, Florence announced on Instagram that he will be stepping back from the 2025 World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour to "focus on surfing in a different way". The WSL later confirmed that Alan Cleland Jr. would take Florence's position and that Florence will receive the wildcard position for the 2026 Championship Tour.{{Cite web |date=2025-01-21 |title=Competitor Updates Ahead of 2025 CT Season Start at Pipeline |url=https://www.worldsurfleague.com/posts/538316/competitor-updates-ahead-of-2025-ct-season-start-at-pipeline |access-date=2025-01-21 |website=World Surf League |language=en}}

In 2013, Florence changed sponsors, joining Hurley International, after surfing for O'Neill since he was six years old.{{cite web |last=Weisberg |first=Zach |title=John John Florence Joins Hurley |url=http://www.theinertia.com/business-media/john-john-florence-joins-hurley/ |work=The Inertia |date=January 5, 2013 |access-date=November 10, 2015}} 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.{{Cite web |date=January 28, 2020 |title=John Florence No Longer Rides For Hurley |url=https://stabmag.com/news/john-florence-no-longer-rides-for-hurley/ |access-date=August 7, 2020 |website=Stab Magazine |language=en-US}} Most recently, Florence partnered with [https://machupicchu.energy/ Machu Picchu Energy], a new energy brand that uses natural caffeine and organic ingredients. In his [https://www.instagram.com/p/CaTPD-2pJVf/ 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 "[https://florencemarinex.com/ Florence Marine X]" in 2020 as a joint venture with former Hurley owner Bob Hurley.{{Cite web |date=August 13, 2020 |title=Exclusive: John Florence Unveils His New Brand, Florence Marine X |url=https://stabmag.com/news/exclusive-john-florence-unveils-his-new-brand-florence-marine-x/ |access-date=March 1, 2022 |website=Stab Mag |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Haro |first=Alexander |title=John John Florence Announces that He's Starting His Own Brand: Florence Marine X |url=https://www.theinertia.com/surf/john-john-florence-new-brand-florence-marine-x/ |access-date=March 1, 2022 |website=The Inertia |date=August 12, 2020 |language=en-US}}

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.{{cite web |title=John John Florence and Vans Premiere "Done" at the House of Vans |url=http://www.surfermag.com/blogs/industry-news/john-john-florence-and-vans-premiere-done-at-the-house-of-vans/#FoCjhidmW07IPFcl.97 |work=SurferMag |date=February 19, 2013 |access-date=November 10, 2015}}{{cite web |title=John John Florence |url=http://wedgeandlever.com/portfolio/jjf/ |work=Wedge & Lever |access-date=November 10, 2015}}{{cite web |title=The Surfer Poll Results: Slater wins his 19th, John Florence dominates the rest |url=https://www.surfer.com/features/surfer-poll-results/ |work=SurferMag |date=December 7, 2013 |access-date=November 10, 2015}}{{cite web |title=2013 Surfer Poll Highlights |url=http://www.surfermag.com/surfer-poll/2013-highlights/#msvK0OkmtOyVtqye.97 |work=SurferMag |date=December 2013 |access-date=November 10, 2015}}{{cite web |title=The 2013 Surfer Poll: A roundup of the best shots from the biggest night in surf |url=https://www.surfer.com/surfer-awards-archive/2013-surfer-poll/ |work=SurferMag |date=December 12, 2013 |access-date=November 10, 2015}} JJF received Surfer Poll 2013 Best Performance Award for his role in Done.

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.{{cite web |title=John John Florence and Friends: Departure Delayed |url=http://www.theinertia.com/surf/john-john-florence-and-friends-departure-delayed/ |work=The Inertia |date=January 4, 2013 |access-date=November 10, 2015}}{{cite web |title=Departure Delayed |url=http://www.surfermag.com/videos/departure-delayed/#GhYwosP1AXbOj6MH.97 |work=Surfer |date=January 3, 2013 |access-date=November 10, 2015}}{{cite web |title=Free to Roam |url=http://www.surfermag.com/videos/free-to-roam/#slyfLDX1FTlE1EEZ.97 |work=Surfer |date=April 3, 2013 |access-date=November 10, 2015}}{{cite web |title=Begin Again |url=http://www.surfermag.com/videos/begin-again/#XrLfdf8tveHMipJ7.97 |work=Surfer |date=May 7, 2013 |access-date=November 10, 2015}}{{cite web |title=Again |url=http://www.surfermag.com/videos/again/#3QSQfzO5YrHFY8O7.97 |work=Surfer |date=September 19, 2013 |access-date=November 10, 2015}}{{cite web |title=& Again |url=http://www.surfermag.com/videos/again-2/#ckWYHQeIusROvU5F.97 |work=Surfer |date=October 7, 2013 |access-date=November 10, 2015}} Begin Again received Surfer Poll 2013 Short of the Year Award.

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.{{cite magazine |last=Doyle |first=Patrick |title=Hear Jack Johnson's Love Letter to Surfing: "Seasick Dream" will appear in new John John Florence film, 'View From a Blue Moon' |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/premieres/hear-jack-johnsons-love-letter-to-surfing-20151103 |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=November 3, 2015 |access-date=November 10, 2015}}{{cite web |last=Haro |first=Alexander |title=Listen: Jack Johnson's New Song for John John Florence's View From a Blue Moon |url=http://www.theinertia.com/music-art/listen-jack-johnsons-new-song-for-john-john-florences-view-from-a-blue-moon/ |work=The Inertia |date=November 4, 2015 |access-date=November 10, 2015}} On November 11, 2015,View from a Blue Moon, the first surf film shot in 4k, premiered with seven screenings worldwide.{{cite web |last=Ito |first=Daniel Ikaika |title=North Shore pro surfer, John John Florence, premieres bio movie, "View From a Blue Moon" |url=http://www.hawaiimagazine.com/content/north-shore-pro-surfer-john-john-florence-premieres-bio-movie-%E2%80%9Cview-blue-moon%E2%80%9D |work=Hawaii Magazine |date=November 7, 2015 |access-date=November 10, 2015}}

The film was shot using aerial photography provided entirely by helicopters.

Let's Be Frank

In 2016, Florence narrated the film Let's Be Frank, a rockumentary film based on big wave surfer, Frank Solomon.{{Cite web |last=Hopewell |first=John |date=September 20, 2016 |title='Let's Be Frank's' Peter Hamblin on Reinventing Surf Films |url=https://variety.com/2016/film/festivals/lets-be-franks-peter-hamblin-surf-films-san-sebastian-1201865345/ |access-date=August 7, 2020 |website=Variety |language=en}}{{Citation |title=Let's Be Frank |url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt6210456/ |access-date=August 7, 2020}}

Twelve

On July 8, 2016, Florence released the first episode of his series Twelve.{{Cite web |date=July 8, 2016 |title=John John Florence Opens Up In New Series 'Twelve' |url=https://www.surfer.com/surfing-magazine-archive/surfing-more/surfing-press/twelve-new-series-john-john-florence/ |access-date=August 7, 2020 |website=SURFER Magazine |language=en-US}} The series consists of 7 episodes, which were released approximately every month, about Florence's quest for the first world title of his career.

Florence is married to Lauryn Cribb.{{Cite web |last=Lai |first=Gladys |date=10 January 2023 |title=John John Florence and Lauryn Ashley's riverside wedding brought a slice of Australia to the Hawaiian tropics |url=https://www.vogue.com.au/fashion/news/john-john-florence-wedding/image-gallery/511eda3edc1cb6bc87e7a570e0f7c05f |access-date=13 December 2023 |website=Vogue.com.au}}

His brother, Nathan, competes on the Big Wave World Tour after qualifying in 2018.{{Cite web |title=Athletes |url=https://www.worldsurfleague.com/athletes?tourIds[]=9 |access-date=August 7, 2020 |website=World Surf League |language=en}}

{{reflist}}

• {{WSL profile}}
• {{Team USA|new_id=john-john-florence-1230735|old_id=john-john-florence|sport=usa-surfing|archive=20230611210727}}
• {{Olympics.com|john-john-florence}}
• {{Olympedia}}

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{{s-ach|ach}}

{{Succession box

| title = World Surf League Surfing World Champion (men's)

| years = 2016, 2017

| before = Adriano De Souza

| after = Gabriel Medina

}}

{{s-end}}

{{WSL CT Roster}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Florence, John John}}

Category:1992 births

Category:World Surf League surfers

Category:Sportspeople from Honolulu

Category:Surfers from Honolulu County, Hawaii

Category:Living people

Category:American surfers

Category:Olympic surfers for the United States

Category:Surfers at the 2020 Summer Olympics

Category:Surfers at the 2024 Summer Olympics