John John Florence facts for kids
Quick facts for kids John "John John" Alexander Florence |
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Florence at the 2013 Triple Crown of Surfing
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| Personal information | |
| Born | October 18, 1992 Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S. |
| Residence | Haleʻiwa, Hawaii, U.S. |
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (185 cm) |
| Weight | 185 lb (84 kg) |
| Surfing career | |
| Best year | 1st: 2016, 2017, 2024 - WSL World Champion |
| Sponsors | Florence, Machu Picchu Energy, VEIA Supplies]], Therabody, Yeti and Pyzel surfboards |
| Major achievements |
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| Surfing specifications | |
| Stance | Regular (natural foot) |
John "John John" Alexander Florence (born October 18, 1992) is an American professional surfer. He is known as one of the best surfers at Banzai Pipeline, a famous surf spot. John John won two world titles in a row on the World Surf League (WSL) Men's Championship Tour in 2016 and 2017. He was the first surfer from Hawaii to win back-to-back world titles since Andy Irons.
John John Florence also won his third world title in 2024. He represented the United States in surfing at the 2020 Summer Olympics (which happened in 2021) and also qualified for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. In January 2025, he announced he would be taking a break from the 2025 WSL Championship Tour to explore surfing in new ways.
Contents
Early Life and Surfing Beginnings
John John Florence was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, and is the oldest of three brothers. He grew up in Hale'iwa in a house right by the ocean at Banzai Pipeline, a very famous surf spot. His mother, Alexandra, who is also a surfer, introduced him to the sport.
John John first rode a surfboard when he was just six months old! By the age of five, he was already surfing on his own. Besides surfing, he enjoys skateboarding, snowboarding, and drawing. He was given the nickname "John John" after John F. Kennedy Jr., who was also called "John John" by the media.
Surfing Career Highlights
Becoming a Young Pro
When John John was only 13 years old, he became the youngest surfer ever to compete in the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing. This event includes three big-wave surfing contests in Hawaii. Even though he didn't win his first round, he scored higher than a professional surfer named Shane Dorian, who was much older. John John said he was "pretty scared" but happy with how he did.
Another famous pro surfer, Kelly Slater, once said about John John, "John John's going to know the waves on North Shore like no one we've ever seen before." This showed how much talent he had even when he was young.
Overcoming Challenges
Like many athletes, John John has faced injuries. In 2011, he broke his back while surfing at Banzai Pipeline. He has also had a broken wrist, a broken leg, a broken arm, and an ankle injury. Despite these setbacks, he always worked hard to get back in the water.
Rising to the Top
John John joined the World Surf League (WSL) to compete against the best surfers globally. He quickly became a top contender. He won the 2016 and 2017 WSL World Championships, showing he was one of the best surfers in the world. He also won the Vans World Cup of Surfing in 2011 and 2013, becoming the youngest person to win that honor.
In 2016, John John won "The Eddie" Quiksilver Big Wave Invitational at Waimea Bay, a very important big-wave contest that only happens when the waves are huge. He is one of only ten surfers to ever win this event. Later that year, he won the Meo Rip Curl Pro in Portugal, which helped him secure his first WSL World Championship title.
Recent Achievements and Future Plans
In December 2019, even after a serious ACL knee injury that made him miss much of the 2019 season, John John qualified for the 2020 Olympics. He competed there but was eliminated in the third round.
He continued to win big events, including the Billabong Pipeline Masters in December 2020. In December 2021, he won the Michelob ULTRA Pure Gold Haleiwa Challenger. He also kept the Triple Crown of Surfing title for 2021 (awarded in January 2022). In December 2023, he won the Vans Pipe Masters.
In 2024, John John Florence had an amazing year and won his third WSL World Championship title at Lower Trestles. This made him one of the most successful surfers in history.
On January 21, 2025, John John announced on Instagram that he would be stepping back from the 2025 World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour. He shared that he wants to "focus on surfing in a different way." The WSL confirmed that he will receive a special "wildcard" spot for the 2026 Championship Tour, meaning he can still compete in the future if he chooses.
Sponsorships and Own Brand
John John Florence has worked with several big brands throughout his career. In 2013, he joined Hurley International. In 2020, he left Hurley and partnered with Machu Picchu Energy, a new energy drink brand that uses natural ingredients and helps kids get outdoors.
Today, John John is sponsored by Machu Picchu Energy, Stance, Futures, Nixon, Dakine, Clif Bar, Electric, Yeti, and Pyzel surfboards. He also started his own clothing and surf brand called "Florence Marine X" in 2020, working with Bob Hurley, the former owner of Hurley.
Surfing Films
John John Florence has starred in and narrated several surfing films, showing off his incredible skills and passion for the ocean.
- Done (2013): This was John John's first surfing film. It won the Surfer Poll 2013 Movie of the Year Award, and John John also won the Best Performance Award for his role in it.
- Departure Delayed, Free to Roam, Begin Again, Again, And Again (2013): These are five short films that came out in the same year. Begin Again won the Surfer Poll 2013 Short of the Year Award.
- View from a Blue Moon (2015): This film is like a biography of John John and his friends surfing around the world. It was the first surf film ever shot in 4K, which means it has super clear and detailed video. It even used helicopters for all the aerial shots!
- Let's Be Frank (2016): John John narrated this film, which is about big wave surfer Frank Solomon.
- Twelve (2016): This was a series of seven episodes that followed John John's journey as he tried to win his first world title.
Personal Life
John John Florence is married to Lauryn Cribb. His brother, Nathan, is also a professional surfer who competes on the Big Wave World Tour.
See also
In Spanish: John John Florence para niños
