John John raises the world title trophy in Portugal – the fourth Hawaiian ever to do so. Photo: WSL/Poullenot/Aquashot
On the sands of Portugal, John Alexander Florence became the fourth Hawaiian male shortboarder to join the pantheon of surfing world champions. When it comes down to it, that fact is peculiar. The sport of kings has just three other world champions in shortboarding that have raised the Hawaiian flag: Derek Ho (1993), Sunny Garcia (2000), and Andy Irons (2002, ’03, and ’04) – that is, dating back to the years of the ISF from the mid-sixties to early seventies. The women’s shortboarding, and men’s and women’s longboarding divisions are riddled with champions from Hawaii. But the islands are underrepresented in men’s shortboarding.
For the land that pioneered the sport, birthed its patriarch the Duke, and is gifted with such iconic surf zones that one particular stretch is nicknamed the seven-mile miracle, it’s astounding, really, that Hawaiian representation in the upper echelons of competition in the sport they humbly presented to the world is so few and far between.
All this to say that John John’s world title matters greatly, not just to him but to Hawaii. Twelve years after Andy clinched his third title, the crown now deservedly sits atop the head of another Hawaiian – an honor that everyone predicted would occur sooner or later, anyway.
For good measure, here’s a look at all of Hawaii’s world champs. Congrats on joining the club, John John.
1. Derek Ho
2. Sunny Garcia
3. Andy Irons
4. John John Florence
