Our new world champion really is greatest show on surf
JOHN John Florence is the new 2016 world champion of surfing and he seriously is the most legitimate world champion that just about anyone can think of right now. He is the elite and complete surfer.
He’s considered the best at aerial moves, the best barrel rider and the best in big waves as he has a fearless approach.
The strangest part about him winning the world title is that all his Championship Tour victories have happened not in the awesome big barrelling waves of the world for which John John is famous, but rather in beach break conditions like Rio and Portugal.
He has had multiple great results in giant waves in Fiji, Tahiti and Hawaii and is usually the standout performer, but is yet to win at any of those locations. But without doubt, Florence is an incredibly legit- imate WSL world champion and now he has won his first world title, I can imagine many more will fall his way.
When I was competing more than 10 years ago, John John Florence’s name was mentioned as this emerging superstar from Hawaii.
The stories were of this talented young surfer who grew up on the beach at Pipeline, began surfing at two and was surfing by himself at Pipeline on the smaller days at five!
I’ve seen him charge massive waves in his teenage years and like everyone who has witnessed him at his best, a world title simply had to happen.
The best part of Florence winning is that it sets up a rivalry with Brazilian superstar Gabriel Medina. I can’t see anyone challenging these two in the coming five years.
Four-day forecast: Look for another great swell to move in on the Surf Coast today with waves on the reefs this afternoon then solid surf through Friday with excellent winds. Smaller but still very surf able reef waves around 1m through Saturday and Sunday.