The latest video from John John Florence starts with a montage of him, Nathan Florence, Gabriel Medina, Jack Robinson and Noah Beschen flying through the air in slow motion. It’s the beginning of an edit that shows the way wind can transform a familiar wave into a totally different beast, all set to a jaunty classical score.
“I’ve always really enjoyed days like these when the winds change and we get to look at a wave that we surf all the time in a different way,” reads the text immediately preceding the montage, “These clips were shot over two sessions this weekend. I thought it would be cool to show some of it in slow motion, as I have always enjoyed being able to see the details and different approaches when everything slows down.”
Slow motion has a tendency to be an overused effect in surf clips. I often find myself wanting to hit the fast forward button on an endless, slowed-down barrel, just to see what the ride actually looked like. However, in this case it’s totally warranted. With aerial surfing, slow motion can give a closer look at all the minute movements that lead to a perfectly landed maneuver.
“It was fun to have Nate and Noah, Gabriel and Jack out there in these conditions. It’s cool to see how everyone’s approach changes with the air wind,” continues JJF in another text card. “There’s not as much ability to predict what each wave will do, so it kind of forces you to surf more on instinct and be reactive to the different sections that pop up. Maybe all wind is good wind?”
