Senior Editor
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Sunset Beach surfing

John John Florence was there for Sunset’s grand opening party. Photo: YouTube//Screenshot


The Inertia

When summer rolls around on the North Shore, it’s a few things: first, a heartbreaking change of seasons that means no big waves for a while. Second, a much-needed reprieve from months of big waves. But you can bet that by mid-September, North Shore surfers are more than ready for those winter swells to arrive. And on September 24, the fall season kicked off. Not quite a proper winter swell, but big enough to light Sunset up.

“Tuesday evening started with a bang as a solid north west swell filled in around the the North Shore,” wrote Oahu Surf Films, “kicking off the start of fall season with solid overhead surf at Sunset Beach.”

Among the hungry crowd was newly crowned 3-time world champion John John Florence.

Florence’s surfing is tough to beat at a wave like Sunset. It’s a powerful place, full of moving water and heavy waves, but John’s particular brand of surfing was shaped by the North Shore’s famous juice.

 
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