It probably wasn’t the game plan coach Ross Williams drew up, but John John Florence got it done. For the first time in seven years, the 31-year-old from Hawaii officially stamped his name as the best surfer in the world.
On a glassy, head-high afternoon at Lower Trestles in a best-of-three matchup at the 2024 WSL Finals versus a frenzied Italo Ferreira, John held his ground by blending fundamental rail work with modern aerial antics. It’s been a long time between drinks, but by clinching this long-awaited win John joins an elite pantheon of surfers with three world titles: Tom Curren, Andy Irons, Mick Fanning and Gabriel Medina.
Photo: Tony Heff/WSL
“The last seven years have been so tough,” said an emotional John on the glass. “So many injuries. Just fighting back to be in this position and having this new format has been stressful. I’ve known since Brazil I’d have the number one seed, so I had a lot of time to think about it. I just can’t believe it. My wife, my family, my son, my team, I couldn’t have done it without them. The injuries, the down days, a lot has gone in to get to this point.”
It’s obvious based on the result, but 2024 was the best and most emotive we’ve seen John surf in a jersey in years. Since his knee injuries flared up in 2018, his competitive seasons have gone in a vicious cycle: Start out strong then suffer another ACL or MCL tear mid-way through. Pull out, recover, then produce a jaw-dropping Hawaii reel that reminds everyone why is so often referenced as the model for modern surfing, much as Kelly Slater was in his prime.
The injuries took their toll, and John had to fight through them, and a number of mediocre waves, to get back to the top of surfing’s totem poll. There were whispers that after 2023, when John finished 8th, he may call it quits, riding off into the sunset aboard his sailboat. But he regrouped (while starting a young family and growing a brand under his own name) and launched his best competitive campaign since 2017.
John didn’t win as many CT events as other surfers this year (Italo, Jack Robinson, Griffin Colapinto two apiece), and yet had already locked in the number one seed just by showing up to the last event of the season (Fiji). Consistency was key. He made four finals, including three in a row from consecutive at Margaret River, Teahupo’o and El Salvador.
Coming into the final, however, looked like a tall task for John. Italo had gone unchecked three heats, flying over Ethan Ewing, Jack and Griffin. But in the first round, John followed the same formula Italo used in previous heats but on the rights. An air reverse to start, followed by a series of clubbings. His waves weren’t huge, but the judges ate up his power and flow. John only rode two waves in the first 35-minute final compared to Italo’s seven.
Things changed in the second round. Italo started with five solid, fundamental backhand turns out the back before the wave crumbled. He was way less twitchy, and the judges signaled 8.17 for engaging his rail.
Then John did John things, producing his signature layback that would put a fire hydrant out of a job. Oohs and ahhs from the sand. He double fist pumps hard at the end, perhaps the hardest he’s ever done on camera, while yelling at the beach. A 9.7, the highest score in four years of the WSL Finals.
Italo responded some time later with a snap and a botched air on the right. It seemed as if John had zapped Italo’s seemingly endless energy. He pounced on with head high set wave, throwing haymakers with cutbacks, fin throws and snaps all the way to the inside rocks. 8.43 as the beach goes bedlam. John held priority into the waning minus with Italo chasing a 9.96. A commanding performance from your world champ.
And with the WSL Finals heading to Cloudbreak in 2025, let’s hope John stays around for a while.
Related: WSL Finals Live Updates: The Battle For the 2024 World Title Is On
Related: World No. 1 John John Florence Talks Titles, Lowers and Olympic Surfing