“Here,” featuring John, Nathan, Ivan, and more, is yet another incredible surf film from the Florence camp. Photo: YouTube//Screenshot
It’s tough to definitively say who the best surfer in the world is. The name would likely change depending on who you are, where you live, and how connected you are with surfing. A corn farmer from Iowa might say Kelly Slater or Bethany Hamilton. A Brazilian might say Gabriel Medina. An up-and-comer from San Clemente might say Griffin Colapinto, while an underground Hawaiian charger might say Michael Ho. But despite who you are, where you’re from, or how much you know about surfing, John John Florence would likely be in anyone’s top three.
It’s not just his surfing or his world titles, either. It’s the way he presents himself to the world. He’s not the guy posting three-second Instagram clips every six seconds. Although his lowlights would be highlights for most other surfers, the films he and the production company Parallel Sea create are far more than the average YouTube clip. They are pieces of art, beautifully filmed and edited, thoughtfully put together with a mix of the best surfing and all the stuff behind the scenes.
In his latest offering, simply titled Here, John and brothers Nathan and Ivan give the viewer a look into their 2023-2024 North Shore winter — and it’s safe to say it was a very, very good one.
