John John Florence and massive airs. No surprises there. Photo: Hennings/Oakley
As many of you know John John Florence injured himself in March during an expression session at the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast. Now, Mr. Florence isn’t the anchor to Hurley’s all-star surf team just for shits and giggles. He earns his keep. Since returning from ankle injury, Florence has finished third at Volcom Fiji Pro and ninth at the Oakley Pro Bali.
While a title run might be difficult for John John this year, sitting in 14th place right now in the ASP rankings with 13,250 points, it seems as if the injury has made him an overall better surfer and competitor. Since coming back, Florence has registered three perfect 10s, one of those being possibly the biggest air ever landed in a competition at the Oakley Bali Pro.
Florence now wears an ankle brace when he surfs, but that doesn’t seem to be affecting his performance. In a recent interview for Hurley #Tournotes, John John said, “It’s an awesome brace…I think it works. It works in my head.” Let the kid think what he wants to think, as long as he continues to surf at this high level.
Let’s take a look at how John John compares to past ASP Rookie of the Year winners during their sophomore campaigns. Going back ten years to 2002, when young Australian Mick Fanning won the coveted Rookie of the Year, only four surfers have improved their finishes the year after claiming the title. Those surfers being: Mick Fanning, Bruce Irons, Dane Reynolds, and Owen Wright. Two surfers have finished the same: Jeremy Flores and Julian Wilson. Four have downgraded: Luke Stedman, Fred Patacchia, Bobby Martinez, and Kekoa Bacalso.
From the past 11 ASP Rookie of the Year winners, only six remain on tour. One is currently out with an injury (Owen Wright), and one is just returning from injury (Fred Patacchia). This means that only three surfers have performed consistently since their rookie outings in the last eleven years. These include Mick Fanning, Jeremy Flores, and Julian Wilson.
I am of the opinion that John John has nothing to worry about, though. He is young, talented, motivated, disciplined, and one of the elite surfers in the world right now. Based on what we have seen thus far, Mr. Florence will have no problem bouncing back from this ankle injury.
Past ASP Rookie of the Year Winners:
2012: John John Florence
2011: Julian Wilson
2010: Owen Wright
2009: Kekoa Bacalso
2008: Dane Reynolds
2007: Jeremy Flores
2006: Bobby Martinez
2005: Fred Patacchia
2004: Bruce Irons
2003: Luke Stedman
2002: Mick Fanning
Below is footage of the aerial that injured John John Florence’s ankle:
