Watch: So what about John John?

Stu Nettle picture
Stu Nettle (stunet)
Swellnet Dispatch

Now that the Olympics are postponed, the Aussie CT leg is cancelled, and most likely the rest of the tour too, surfing has lost the star it orbits around.

Oh yes, I know, bollocks and all that, there's more to surfing than the professional carry on. Yet pro surfers provide a frame of reference for how performance is tracking, and the contests, even for those who loathe them, are a place to congregate, either to wonder at the surfing on show or to write the whole artiifice off.

Under normal circumstances, that is if this Covid fever dream never occurred, the Corona Open would've begun on the Gold Coast this morning. The surf today is small, two foot from the SE and there's a good chance it would've run at Snapper. John John would be in Heat 8 and we'd all be wondering how his gammy knee is gonna hold up when his Brazilian opponents start throwing down.

All that means nought now. There's no marquee set up at Snapper, and the pros are locked down in their repsective countries. Meanwhile, John John has released this clip from Hawaii that includes a few frontside and backside ramps supposed to show that his knee has recovered.

For mine, it doesn't look like it has at all.

Might just be a blessing that the comps have been cancelled.

Also, here's more John John, this one filmed a week ago at Haliewa. There's no airs but a few turns are on point.

Comments

etarip's picture
etarip's picture
etarip Thursday, 26 Mar 2020 at 2:04pm

It’s probably on the site somewhere, but did JJF get a payout from Hurley?

Might’ve turned out to be an absolute windfall. Can’t see the big players in the surf industry surviving this situation.

If you’re a sponsored surfer and the company you surf for goes under, you get nada, right?

jetson.rover's picture
jetson.rover's picture
jetson.rover Sunday, 29 Mar 2020 at 2:10am

Read he was going to but whether it happened or not is another thing.
Probably takes a while to sort that out so if he hasn't seen the cheque yet then it might not happen now.
I can't see the WSL surviving this either really.

calk's picture
calk's picture
calk Thursday, 26 Mar 2020 at 3:47pm

"For mine, it doesn't look like it has at all." Very astute of you Stu. ACL graft doesn't return to full strength until at least 18-months post-surgery. Sometimes longer depending on the graft site (hamstring or patellar tendon most common) and extent of 'bundling' used by the surgeon (how thick the graft is).

High level athletes rarely return to full function and consequent performance prior to the 12-month mark. Yes, there are instances of athletes returning prior to 9-months but their capacity to perform is limited and risk of rerupture elevated.

Solitude's picture
Solitude's picture
Solitude Thursday, 26 Mar 2020 at 4:13pm

Thought he looked good, particularly those carves in the second clip. Certainly several notches above his brothers.

tiger's picture
tiger's picture
tiger Thursday, 26 Mar 2020 at 4:27pm

He's the happiest guy in the world in regards to the woozle and Olympic games cancellation. Couple of flat spins with cushy landings does not constitute a recovery. He's not even surfing at 50% ATM. Best case scenario for him having 12mths to fully recuperate.

ringmaster's picture
ringmaster's picture
ringmaster Thursday, 26 Mar 2020 at 8:27pm

Harsh judge.

jetson.rover's picture
jetson.rover's picture
jetson.rover Sunday, 29 Mar 2020 at 2:00am

well........he's got the extra recovery time now.
More than enough.
His knee will fully recover a lot quicker than the surf industry will.

jetson.rover's picture
jetson.rover's picture
jetson.rover Sunday, 29 Mar 2020 at 2:00am

well........he's got the extra recovery time now.
More than enough.
His knee will fully recover a lot quicker than the surf industry will.

Roadkill's picture
Roadkill's picture
Roadkill Thursday, 26 Mar 2020 at 9:07pm

I love to surf Haleiwa about that size, a bit cleaner would be a bonus. My kind of waves.

wbat's picture
wbat's picture
wbat Thursday, 26 Mar 2020 at 10:34pm

That Haliewa looks like great practice for Marg's mainbreak.

Mr Mr1's picture
Mr Mr1's picture
Mr Mr1 Friday, 27 Mar 2020 at 4:13pm

Hate to say it guys but it's his head which will show. Severe injuries ALWAYS have you thinking will I try that move like I used to? Or will I rip my knee/shoulder/ankle/neck/spine out again and this time cripple myself? Maybe never surf again? It's not IF he can do it. Of course he can. It's, is his head going to let him take that risk again? Confidence is everything. It's funny watching the younger guys in Sydney who think they're marvellous - they just haven't really hurt themselves permanently yet. They will. Just on JJ's Pyzels, well the factory is at Haleiwa and the boards are just right for Haleiwa and all Hawaii's waves. I ride one in Sydney at present and you just know it will scream in good waves and bowls (not the usual onshore slop). I'd say John is on a Ghost or Bastard in these vids. Note too how he swaps boards for a try-out?

jetson.rover's picture
jetson.rover's picture
jetson.rover Sunday, 29 Mar 2020 at 2:07am

He'll probably somewhat revert to more turns and lines style competitive surfing,ala Fanning and Parko,and throw in the odd air here or there that's less risky and avoid crazier stuff.
World titles can still be won like that if he does well in the events that they don't do airs in much.
He's getting on now anyway at 27.
No one at 30 is going to be flying and rotating as crazily as guys that are 20.

davidinindo's picture
davidinindo's picture
davidinindo Friday, 27 Mar 2020 at 8:46pm

Hello 4.40 minute mark!!!!

jayet-010's picture
jayet-010's picture
jayet-010 Saturday, 28 Mar 2020 at 2:32am

Fuck yeah ... 55 sec and 4.40 mark were next level turns.

NDC's picture
NDC's picture
NDC Saturday, 28 Mar 2020 at 10:06pm

50% strength - and still the surfer I’d chose to watch over all others

memlasurf's picture
memlasurf's picture
memlasurf Sunday, 29 Mar 2020 at 8:54am

They make that wave look easy but I don't think I would want to be caught on the inside. Looks heavy with all that white water and the take off spot seemed to be moving around a lot. A couple of those big hacks by JJ were gold.

Craig's picture
Craig's picture
Craig Monday, 20 Apr 2020 at 1:16pm

Looking solid!