Not even Erik Knutson, John Florence’s filmer for a decade-plus, is immune from praising top-shelf surfing in real-time. In the raw clips documenting a single session with brothers John and Nathan Florence and Italo Ferreira in West Australia before the 2024 Margaret River Pro, Knutson follows every air attempt with an animated reaction and a few expletives.
In a wonky onshore beach break (with the occasional tube), the three surfers attempt to launch from the biggest ramps they can find. John goes for several alley-oops, backflips and massive air reverses. Italo, with the agility and energy of a cat on caffeine, pulls off whistle-inducing backside rotations. He even lands one on a borrowed Pyzel on his first attempt.
Frame: Erik Knuston
It speaks to their absurd level of well-roundedness that John and Italo are aerial wizards and have serious big-wave chops. Both have won contests at pumping Pipeline. Maybe they just like being in the water? John’s an Eddie winner and has landed some of the largest alley-oops ever. Italo can huck every air in the book and has towed legitimate Nazare (He’s even skimboarded there). Some guys are just different.
So, all that said, who do you think won the session?