John John Florence looking versatile at last year’s Hurley Pro Trestles. Photo: ASP/ Kirstin
Widely considered to be one of the most high performance waves on the planet, Lower Trestles is playing host to the Hurley Pro once again. With the wave on offer at Lowers, there is a 100% chance we will see some epic maneuvers from some of the top surfers in the world. There is no denying Trestles’ magic quality. There is something in those cobblestones.
For someone who has been paddling out at Pipe since he was five years old, you would think John John Florence would have no problem tackling Lowers. But his track record at the iconic location proves otherwise. After ranking 37th at the 2011 Nike Lowers Pro and 13th at the 2011 Hurley Pro, John John is taking a little longer to master the wave than anticipated. Theoretically, he has a great style for it. His technical mastery and speed has taken him from grom phenom to new leader – especially after his back-to-back wins at Pipe in 2011. His natural ability is unnerving. He seems to have a rare knowledge of the ocean that only a few others have a grasp on. Not to mention he is extremely creative with the lines that he takes and seems to stoke himself up for any size swell. Lowers has proven to be a continuous challenge for him given all the right skills are there to completely dominate.
It’s only a matter of time before John John pulls out a win at Lowers. He is still considered a young star on the ASP World Tour. Going up against guys like Kelly Slater, who have been surfing Trestles since before he was born, can’t be easy. And although his go-for-broke style is a risky one, it can be extremely rewarding when it comes together (see “that air” in at the Oakley Pro Bali) – which it will, eventually. He has already proven to be climbing the totem pole after ranking 3rd at the 2012 Nike Lowers Pro. In one year, he has managed to jump from 37th place to 3rd. It’s almost not even a question of “if” but “when.”
Lowers is a wave that takes time to master. It’s an extremely technical wave, but John John is an extremely technical surfer. He’s got a way of taking us back to surfing’s basics while incorporating new, seemingly unfaltering maneuvers. Give it time and we will see great things from him at Trestles.
Watch out for the 2013 Hurley Pro Lower Trestles September 15th -21st. For a live webcast of the contest visit Thehurleypro.com.
