Watch: John John Florence // 29 more waves, still at home
Last month John John Florence released a searing clip from his time stuck at home (26 waves from home), and now he's put out the sequel.. 29 more waves, still at home.
There are a few more airs in this clip, but John is looking very strong and unperturbed by previous injuries. It's all to the backing of Motorhead as well.
Comments
the turns are bigger, the airs loftier and he's cleaned up all the superfluous movements in between turns.
also looks to be really enjoying it.
Totally agree with the stillness between turns. Great observation. What a pleasure to watch.
I’m thinking it gives him that real “Kelly” authority with the judges. Looks unbeatable
except Kelly is way busier in between turns and for decades fooled judges with dramatic recoveries.
JJF surfs way, way cleaner, a legacy, I think, of his skate background where tricks need to be clean to be counted.
Interesting observation FR, I don't know enough about modern skating to draw that conclusion, however his surfing in these waves is 11/10 no doubt. No other surfer has the all round surfing ability that JJ has. Kelly was never a real big turn hack surfer in the true sense of the word, in my opinion, more like a cat with amazing reflexes, balance, read of the conditions and a double jointed back. The zillas are way too busy on a wave and just don't have that full rail carve at full speed and of the Oz's there is no one with that mix of skills to that level. This guy is amazing to watch.
His legs look alot stronger post knee. Probably helping with that smooth powerful bottomturn...heaps of hold through lower body, minimal body movement. I don't reckon Slaters legacy was fooling the judges either and still reckon the way he surfed through his era (comp and non comp) is superior to anyone that's come since when you factor in the innovation he brought and the equipment he rode compared to everyone else. But jjf is well and truly on a similar trajectory.
I agree different styles and Kelly generally did more wiggles leading into each turn. All subjective of course, but the similarity i’m seeing is only a split second of stillness and swagger after each turn that kind of punctuates the manoeuvre and in a subtle way asks everyone “how good was that?”
Haven’t even watched the vid yet but the photo on this page is jaw dropping.
Incredible.
Remember when we were gaslighted for years with the lie that we needed the pro tour for progression in surfing ?
Turns out we just need crew to go surfing heaps . Who’d have thought ?*
* Anyone who wasn’t paid to claim otherwise.
Can I be the (non grumpy) grump that says 'meh'?
Yes, of course he surfs like a god, but compared to 26 Waves from Home I found this underwhelming. Not a lot of great turns, but a lot of so-so to good airs.
Hope he finally does well at Pipe. He should smoke the rest out there, but hasn't yet in comps.
What is an excellent air in those bumpy and blowy conditions Island? I saw one of Matt Meola recently and that was excellent but he didn't land it (sky high seemingly 10m in the air). Pretty well over super technical airs in what is for this level are usually soft beachies or reefs.
My highlights:
1:15 - cutback, is there better?
1:39 - backhand air precision
1:42: two tubes that look like some kind of north shore Kirra
Daylight second for ability and style
That cutty is the same as Richard Cram used to do in the 80's - full rail blast at full speed with total control. Marvellous.
I'll add:
0:16 - Bottom turn and the speed he's able to hold going up the face.
2:07 - Airdrops seamlessly into a bottom turn. Then goes on to combo a wave that most would deem unsurfable.
Honourable mention to those boned-out straight airs.
Anyone got any insights on how to carve those big turns?
Looks like you compress in and push through with most of the turn completed with almost straight legs (as opposed to staying compressed through the whole turn)
Just go and by a Pyzel Ghost- :)
Watch his left arm and shoulders open at 1:15 how it pulls him through the turn
Bingo. Open the shoulders and rotate in the direction, the hips and legs follow and drive into and through turn. Without shoulder rotation, not possible.
Injury free, would have definitely won 2018 after the runaway start and probably last yr. Best and most stylish on tour.
Could I talk you into watching again IB and pay attention to the subtle tweaks in the turns and steeze in the air?
The tweaks in the air and even some steezy landings are so so nice to watch. The smallish air at 0:22 looks like it could’ve almost been a double grab.
FR, I did notice one of those airs in particular. And I promise to give a few more goes.
There just wasn't the feeling of being blown away. Some of the turns in 26 Waves did that, and the whole tempo of it did too. (As did Wade Carmichael's powersurfing tour de force Mint, although totally different.)
I love it when JJF lets his hair down. Didn't get the feeling he was this time.
That turn at 0:16
:0
Look like the knee is holding up !
Class act without a doubt
What, no one's giving extra points for Motorhead??
I am
Love the lenny tunes to this hammer surfing
*Lemmy
3 waves better than the other one
10 's all round from the judges for that Motorhead track .
2nd the Motorhead score
Never get tired of watching JJF surf.
His V8 bottom turn is the foundation of it all, 'specially on his forehand. Mad.
Hah, it looks like I should have just kept my mouth shut.
To paraphrase Jordan Peterson: If you find yourself disagreeing with the rest of the world, you should probably look at yourself before trying to change the world.
Hasn't stopped facto, IB.
Haha, no.
Never go full gonzo.
Don't worry IB, I learnt from you.
I hate motorhead, but I'm keeping my trap shut about it.
Yep motorhead never did it for me.
Old dogs learning new tricks, aye!
There’s hope for us :-)
Wow , that cuttie at 1:15 , OMG ,
Disregarding his air game , which actually looks functional and not contrived , his rail game and general jazziness is unmatched .
He lands those airs so clean... just keeps riding. This is next level stuff. Without a doubt the best surfer in the world at the moment.
Good soundtrack as well. Gotta love Motorhead.
The thing that blows me away is the sheer speed he surfs with. It's almost like he's being whipped in.
As someone said, the bottom turn seems to be the key. Stu did a good analysis of it a while ago something about committing to the turn earlier from memory.
Just looking at my favourite shot of Curren (the sequence at backdoor).Very similar turn and shot to the one above.both bloody legends!
Just for contrast/comparison, here's the arch nemesis. Small wave ripping in the Maldives (and some Pipe in the second vid):
https://stabmag.com/stabcinema/with-surfing-like-this-its-little-wonder-...
He is going to be hard to beat in the new digital format triple crown