John John Florence has the tools and the experience at nineteen to trump King Slater as the quickest to the crown, but only time will tell. WWJJD? Photo: ASP/Kirstin
Fresh off of his stellar year-end performance, North Shore native John John Florence looks towards the future and we ask: WWJJD? We can decidedly say that 2011 was his coming of age, qualifying for the ASP Tour and becoming the youngest surfer ever to claim the coveted Triple Crown of Surfing, at nineteen years old. What can we expect from him in 2012?
Considering the fact that he’s been surfing Pipe since he was in elementary school, look for JJ to shine this year in similar conditions. That means that Cloudbreak, J-Bay, Teahupoo, Supertubos, and especially Pipeline should all be places where his experience will be a major advantage. This is where Florence sets himself apart from his recently appointed ASP peers, a group that includes Kolohe Andino, Julian Wilson and Gabriel Medina, to name a few.
Amidst this changing of the guard on tour, Florence is unique in his ability to surf well in all conditions, showcasing classic power surfing and tube riding along with his impressive aerial game. His consistency is something that also bodes well for his future, with an average heat score of 15.07 points out of 20.00 in his five World Tour events last year. It’s a safe bet to say that there’s a bright future ahead for JJ, especially when he has the 11X World Champ, Kelly Slater, singing his praises. At the age of twenty, Slater won his first World Title and was the youngest ever to do so. JJ has the tools and the experience at nineteen to trump King Slater as the quickest to the crown, but only time will tell, WWJJD?
