Reef Hawaiian Pro
World Cup of Surfing
Pipeline Masters
Florence wins Triple Crown
Nineteen-year-old John John Florence, surfing in his first-ever Vans Triple Crown, became the youngest surfer to win the overall title on Saturday. Florence, who ushered in an era of super young surf stars when he made the cover of Surfer Magazine in 2004, has matured into one of Hawaii's greatest stars, especially at Pipeline. The famed reef just steps from his home.
2011 Billabong Pipeline Masters Final
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Pipeline goes off for three crushing days and Kieren Perrow wins.
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Florence surfed brilliantly through the Billabong Pipeline Masters day one and two with two perfect tens and a 9.93 in the biggest swell for this event in recent history. On December 6, he won the Vans World Cup of Surfing over Tahitian Michel Bourez at Sunset, and in November, he made the semifinals of the Reef Hawaiian Pro at Haleiwa.
Though he maintained the points lead for the Triple Crown title, the final results were out of Florence's hands after he lost the quarterfinal to 11-time ASP World Champ, Kelly Slater, in one of the best heats of the Pipe Masters. Florence clinched when Bourez lost his semifinal to eventual winner, Kieren Perrow. Florence finished with 13060 points to Bourez' 12930.
"I'm so happy to win this title," said Florence, "I've been watching the Triple Crown since I was little. Pancho Sullivan really helped me out."
He also commented on the potential retirement that 39-year-old Kelly Slater alluded to today upon losing the semifinal to Joel Parkinson.
"It's crazy. He's hinted to people that he's retiring here for the past three years. But it's been amazing to watch him out here."
Florence has been part of the Vans and O'Neill teams since before he was a teenager. He has made several rounds of the Pipe Masters in the past. Earlier this year, he won Da Hui Backdoor Shootout and the Volcom Pipeline Pro. He qualified to join the ASP World Tour at the halfway point this season and had some respectable results to finish No. 34 after doing only six of 11 events and is regarded by most as the future of barrel riding.