John John Florence Puts On Statement-Making Show At Pipe Pro
If there was any question about John John Florence’s intentions in 2024, he put them all to rest with his performance today at the Pipe Pro. Dropping the highest scoring heat of the event thus far—a 17.34 total—the two-time world champ’s innate connection with the legendary North Shore reef was on full display as he opened his Round of 32 heat with a 9-point ride at Pipe and ended it with an 8-pointer at Backdoor.
Surfing in his 100th Championship Tour, Florence used the milestone as motivation and to build momentum through the early stages of the event.
You come into the beginning of the year and it’s like everything is restarting and you feel nervous, like you’re a rookie almost, like you’re coming into it for the first time ever, but for whatever reason that gave me a lot of confidence,” Florence explained.
Appearing to be in a very content, happy headspace, Florence went on to explain how he was excited for the year. With the start of a new Championship Tour, the Olympics on the horizon and his first child on the way, he has a lot to look forward in 2024.
“More than anything, I’m excited,” Florence said after his heat. “It’s all good. There’s so much good stuff going on.”
With the heat win, Florence is into the Round of 16, where he’ll face Australia’s Callum Robson, who’s been charging all event and will be a tough opponent for the North Shore hero.
