Miss watching John John Florence surf? Same. There’s just something different about the way the man (yes, he just turned 30) engages his rail. John John, of course, sat out the back half of 2022 with another knee injury and has recently been more occupied with sailing than he has been with surfing. Who can blame him? The grind of 2023 doesn’t officially start until late January at Pipeline.
But it seems like an eternity since we’ve witnessed JJF in the water, doesn’t it? That’s why this little YouTube find is a precious gem. Don’t the giant walls of Sunset just fit his surfing to a T? The cut is from Shane Kreutzer, filmed last January at the famous lineup but only recently released. It’s a moment when Mr. Florence seems very free; every turn placed perfectly, that gorgeous style on display. And health. Yes, health. Not a hint of discomfort from the two-time world champ. A rare session caught on camera of one of our favorites surfing entirely unencumbered, without jersey or knee brace. A fleeting moment indeed.
