It's one of the more improbable statistics in pro surfing: That it took John John Florence fourteen goes to win the Pipe Masters.
Especially when you see surfing such as this, all filmed in the week leading up to this year's Masters.
Note: First two-something minutes is slow-boiled scene-setting, only for it to pop the thermometer at 2:50.
"That board felt like the starting point for a new life."
The inner mechanics of Russell's mind.
Sniffing out the bounty on land and at sea.
From a day with a low wave count yet high consequence.
Like a hundred social media clips joined together but not on social media.
Seeking darkness on a sunny day.
And Matahi lifts the bar yet again.
Bite size humans in king size waves.
Comments
Jeeeezus.
*quits surfing*
to bad
Yeah it's a bit like that Sprout!
You get the feeling that now he's got the monkey of his back he might get quite a few more Masters before he's done.
Loved the music on this one - was wondering who it was until I saw the credits.
The old man, my brother and I wandered into the Artis family jamming in Haleiwa years ago - heard some music (jazz/fusion kinda stuff) from across the street when we were checking out one of the board shops (or mighta been when we were looking for lunch - memory's a bit hazy!); thought it might have been a live show or something but turned out it was just the boys jamming in their house with the front. They waved us in, we listened for half an hour or so, chatted for a bit, then they gave us a CD on the way out. Amazingly talented musos the lot of them, and super friendly and warm.
god damn.
The drop at 2:54!
I said "oh my God" out loud when i saw that.
the spit at 4.00!
..apart from anything else..very cool original music... Miles vapour..
So so good. Ivan has a very pleasant style, doesn't he? (not throwing shade on JJF - would be an idiot to attempt that)
Was that Phantoms at the end?
He wearing a Florence Marine X vest?
Every single wave he rode had something amazing. Even just a subtle foot placement, or the approach to a particular turn.
Stunning.
Wow. Those drops are just so steep and technical and he does them with flow.
The outer reef footage, slight blur to it, like the end of 'Litmus' only with JJF in the tube.
Music was great, heard a couple of Santana-y licks and rhythm lines there :)
Position, timing and aesthetically pleasing. Could watch JJF all day long.
Sublime surfer with a chilled vibe....great to see
Again, incredible surfing, also incredible cinematography.
I do love the brotherly bickering...
Ivan: “Mum, text Nathan we’re going out”
John: “No! Don’t text Nathan, he didn’t tell me the other day!"
The pull-in at the end....fark. Ouch.
Right.....that's it!
After watching that, JJF is DEFINITELY the best surfer on the planet.
Fucking outrageous!
JJF is a Pipe Master and balance restored to Earth. Covid disappears, global warming trends reverse. Trump finally admits he's the bigliest loser that ever lost, losing over and over and over again and again and again so then retires in shame to Northern China & bizarrely finds love triangle with Xi Jingping & Kim Jong-un and everyone lives happily ever after - except for Medina who wonders of opportunities lost and comes to the realisation that everyone except Brazilians think he's a cunt
Had to be Phantoms didn't it?
houses not right for Himalayas.
The timing to pull up under those lips. Wow.
Never had a video that's made me want to surf more, and also quit.
pfft kids stuff ....said no one......fuk hows that last double tube ........
Bens right
Considering what MR, Curran, Kong, Occy & and Slater were doing at that same age, John John seems on par.
Hate to add to the froth but that was unbelievable..
He's gotta be top of the tree at Pipe these days doesn't he?
That's what I was wondering. Since Derek Ho passed away. I guess it's between JJF and JOB. Surely those two can have any wave they want.
Yeah and maybe Bruce when he’s out there?
There's some recent footage of Jamie burning John out there. Isn't the first time either. Is that just playful fun? An elder surfer staking a claim?
Seems too dangerous a wave to fade someone
Sooooooooooo sick!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I just love the fact he clearly loves surfing pipe. Its pretty clear a fair few tour surfers don't and that makes a big difference.
Very good point.
I can't quite find the right words, but imagine the high you'd be on if all that there was just one week of your life?
Fark, he makes it look so easy....
I’ve watched that last wave so many times and each time is more baffling than the last.
Yeah, just incredible. Clearly Nathan didn’t tell him the other day because he wanted to get a wave.
All the surfers out there, and yet when he is hooking in no one to be seen. Probably they just know it’s his wave, but more likely everyone else is thinking no way am I going that wave, it’s unmakeable, and to everyone else it is.
Those big pipe last few are freaking frightening.
Those last few waves are the outer reef Phantoms
Yeah, great music too.
Very few JJF clips disappoint. None that I can think of anyway.
Surfs these locations like he's been surfing them his entire life
(spoiler: he has)
JJF unbelievable surfer congrats on Pipe Masters win.
Love the brotherly roasting haha, Nathan you didn’t tell me pipe was on??
No don’t tell Nathan he didn’t tell me (talking to Ivan) - GOLD
'14 goes to win' overlooks the fact he was 14yo (by my calcs) in his first Pipe comp. BTW how has he avoided head-reef contact for so long?
Things have sure changed since the 80's in Hawaii. Haoles like JJF would have been given the 'paddle to the beach' by the likes of JBG rather than being given carte blanche at Pipe.
Understood goof but don't think Da Hui would have cared.
WTF D-Rex? You speak of things you know nothing of. Da Hui founders include non-Polynesians, and they don't pick on local kids.
Back to the awesome surfing... and world class sized balls...agree with thermalchap, not sure if to wax up or quit!
'DA HUI was born in Hawai`i by a group of surfers, who were also known as the "Black Shorts". These men are extreme and proud native Hawaiians who believe in the protection and preservation of Hawaiian surfing, and will stop at nothing to defend it. Paddling out into the line up during the late 1970's, to stop professional surfing contests on the North Shore by non-Hawaiians. This was just the beginning of what would later become a noticeable force in the World's surfing community. Some feared us. Some hated us. But most respected us as these men stood up for what was right. Respect is earned. Not given freely.' Source: Da Hui website
Not sure how many white native Hawaiians there are SS but you seem to know it all.
How does JBG & Eddie Rothman fit into that category DRex?
They look pretty white to me
i don't know any more than the average uninformed punter about da hui and their history, but it's always worth being wary of autobiographies, interesting and important as they are
Blokes like JJF & Jamie O'Brien grew up there and cut their teeth at Pipe from the time they were kids. DaHui would have no issue with them as they're gun locals and earned their spots at the top of the tree. Was the same with the 'black shorts' back in the day. They only had issues with foreigners (especially of the pro variety) who thought they could just paddle out and be on the best waves from day one.
You need to brush up on your surfing history D Rex. Maybe start with Rabbit's bio 'Bustin down the door'.
Thanks for the history lesson gents. Have seen pics of JBG and ER goof and if they're white then I'm a snowman. Have read BDTD and enjoyed it thoroughly - no mention of white guys getting carte blanch at PIpe in that tome, I'm afraid, ringa.
Mate are you taking the piss? Or on the piss?
He is taking the piss whilst on the piss.
John and Jamie get a gig on the Da Hui website.
https://dahui.com/dahuiwax
Sure old rex has some sort of correction though.
Johnny Boy Gomes is actually of Puerto Rican heritage.
Even Sunny Garcia,who most people mistake as native Hawaiian,is actually of Filipino heritage.
Hardly native Hawaiians,but perhaps because they weren't white,then in their own minds,and plenty of others too no doubt,they rated higher in the local pecking order than the locally bred 'hoales'.
Eddie Rothman is of Jewish descent from the US mainland, not Polynesian.
He’s just got a real good tan.
She is very giving and John John is very accepting.
That last wave is nothing short of Amazing,