John John Florence, just about to ruin his knee. Photo: Instagram/John John Florence
During a freesurf after a loss at the Corona Bali Protected, John John Florence wrecked his knee. Now, according to the World Surf League, he’s officially pulled out of competition for the foreseeable future.
“The diagnosis of my knee is a high-grade partial tear to my right ACL,” Florence wrote on Instagram. “It’s a bummer not to be able to surf but I’m excited for the opportunity to get into some new types of adventures with friends and family while I’m recovering. In terms of competing again I am not sure if it will be 60 days or 120 days, or less or more. When I return I want to know that I can go as fast and as big as I want to without any thought of my knee. That will be my test before I put a jersey back on.”
Florence wasn’t exactly in the middle of a stellar year when the injury occurred, but as everyone knows, he’s a threat at every stop on tour. As with most knee injuries, however, full recovery can take a long time, no matter which rehab route one chooses.
John John is still competing, though—just not in his regular fashion. He’ll be competing in the Molokai2Oahu race, a grueling 32-mile paddle from Molokai to Oahu, past China Walls and ending at Maunalua Bay Beach Park. It’s one of the toughest races on earth.
The race, which begins on July 29th, will at least give surf fans a chance to see John John competing again. This time, however, it’ll be in one of the most iconic ocean races in existence.
