Gracie & John John on Pro Surfing, Hitting Pause on the WSL Tour & Chasing the Next Best Wave

In today’s episode, I sit down with a true legend in the surfing world, John John Florence. We go beyond the surface, diving into the importance of building an identity outside of sport, growing his brand, Florence Marine X, and navigating fatherhood while traveling the world.

John John gives an honest, eye-opening look at what life is really like as one of the best surfers on the planet—sharing stories from the tour, why he’s pressing pause on competition, his perspective on surfing in the Olympics, and how his life has evolved as a new father.

I hope you enjoy this week’s episode of Athletes After Hours… I’ll see you next Wednesday!

The North Shore of Oʻahu was recently hit by devastating floods after back-to-back Kona storms, leaving homes destroyed, families displaced, and entire communities facing a long road to recovery.   Through initiatives like Florence Marine X, efforts are underway to provide immediate relief—distributing essentials and raising funds to directly support affected families.   If you’re able, consider donating or supporting these initiatives to help the North Shore rebuild and recover.

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Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:00

Overthinking it too much, it just doesn't work with the ocean. Like it you take off on a wave, and if you're like, no, this is the what I'm gonna do on the wave, yeah, the wave might not give you that.

SPEAKER_03 0:09

When you were at the Olympics, did you think that that was your final Olympics? Or do you think that there's still one left in the tank? Um He's a two-time Olympian, three-time world champion, is one of very few to win back-to-back WSL championships, Vans Pipe Masters champion, triple crown of surfing champion, is the founder of the performance apparel company Florence Marine X, and recently became a father to a beautiful baby boy, John John Florence. Welcome to Athletes After Hours.

SPEAKER_00 0:41

Thanks for having me.

SPEAKER_03 0:42

So happy we can make time for this.

SPEAKER_00 0:44

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 0:44

So fun. I feel like I haven't seen you in so long.

SPEAKER_00 0:47

It's been a minute.

SPEAKER_03 0:48

It's been like what, 20 years down here? Um, well, I am just excited to sit down and get to know you more. I feel like you've been such a trailblazer in your sport for so many years. Thank you. And I kind of want to know like what makes you you. So let's start from the beginning. Where did you grow up? How did you even get into surfing? Who got you into it?

SPEAKER_00 1:10

Yeah, um, so I grew up on the north shore of Oahu, Hawaii. And uh my mom has always been a surfer, and she's from the East Coast, and then she moved to Hawaii when she was really young. And then she just got me and my brothers in the water when we were so young. We're uh our whole day was on the beach from when we were like babies. Um, and then so yeah, I don't know. I feel like I've been surfing for as long as I can remember.

SPEAKER_03 1:34

Literally since like in diapers.

SPEAKER_00 1:36

In diapers, yeah, just on the board, like in front, like yeah. So um that's been pretty fun. And and it's been like a I guess it's more of like a family thing for us. Like it's something like we all do together. So oh, that's so cool.

SPEAKER_03 1:48

So that's like your quality time as a family is going out and surfing.

SPEAKER_00 1:51

Yeah, and I that's like where surfing is like I guess it like all my surfing memories come from that. And so through competing and everything, it's like always something that like that's like what I go back to when I think of like what I why I love surfing.

SPEAKER_03 2:05

Okay, I want to go back to your mom because I know that she was a single mom that raised three boys. She's a freaking legend for that, first of all. Like, what a badass. How was that growing up?

SPEAKER_00 2:16

Yeah, so um, but my parents split up when I was pretty young, when I was, I think, about six or something. Um, and then uh yeah, we lived with my mom most of the time and just she took us traveling, she took us to Indonesia, to South Africa, to Europe, and like it felt like kind of every summer we would have like during our big long three-month summertime vacation, we would uh go somewhere different and like live there for those months.

SPEAKER_02 2:41

That's sick.

SPEAKER_00 2:42

Yeah, and so like being so young and being like an Indo, and then just for months and months on end, and then the next year was like South Africa, and then the next year was uh France or something like that. And um yeah, she would just like save up as much money as she could and then like spend it all the next year and then save up again and then spend it all on like this one big long trip.

SPEAKER_03 3:04

Wow. How long were you guys living in different countries?

SPEAKER_00 3:07

Um, like four months at a time, yeah. Like and she just homeschooled you all? Yeah, or it was like during the our summer break. So we would take a little bit off the end and a little bit off the beginning of the next year. Say, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 3:18

So it was just every summer you guys dropped off the grid.

SPEAKER_00 3:21

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 3:21

That's so rad. What was your favorite place that you stayed when you were younger?

SPEAKER_00 3:26

I have great memories from all of it, you know. Um, we spent a lot of time in France and Europe. I think, yeah, we went there like three years in a row. Wow. South Africa, we spent a lot of time there. And then Indo, we spent a lot of time there too. Um, but just I don't know, being kids, you're not really thinking about it. You're just like, okay, here we are. This is where we are now. Like, this is what we're doing.

SPEAKER_03 3:47

This is your normal. Yeah. At what point did you realize it wasn't normal?

SPEAKER_00 3:51

Um, I don't think I ever realized it because I'm still doing it today. That's true. Yeah. You're like, just keep the vibes going. Yeah, you just keep it going.

SPEAKER_03 3:58

Yeah. That's so funny. I mean, it's no shock that you ended up going to literally some of the best surfing capitals of the world.

SPEAKER_00 4:06

Yeah. That was that was amazing. I got to surf a lot of those waves when I was a kid and um like Jeffries Bay and you know, Hossa Gore and France and all these amazing places that these big events go to. And so uh years later, when I was on the tour and going there, I had really good memories from those places. And it's a funny thing, like, I don't know, for me when I'm competing, like having those memories, I guess, and those feelings and those emotions about a place. You have you feel really good and you feel really comfortable going there.

SPEAKER_03 4:33

Yeah, you so you're so calm.

SPEAKER_00 4:35

Yeah, you're so calm. And yeah, you just you're like, oh my gosh, I haven't been here in so long. I have like, yeah. So it made me just excited to be back at these places.

SPEAKER_03 4:45

That's so cool. Cause I yeah, it's like you're kind of creating a happy place in all of these locations.

SPEAKER_00 4:49

Yeah, exactly.

SPEAKER_03 4:50

Where normally you're gonna be really stressed out.

SPEAKER_00 4:52

Normally, yeah, you're like, that's a new place. Like, where do I eat? What do I do? Like, uh, yeah. And so it was it was more of like, oh, I just I'm so happy to be here to see our friends and people that like we made so many friends along the way, too, and lifelong friends, you know, for our family.

SPEAKER_03 5:07

So that's so cool. I bet that also just gave you such a competitive edge because you're literally Zen every location you compete at.

SPEAKER_00 5:16

Try, yeah, trying to be.

SPEAKER_03 5:19

Or at least you're familiar with the wave and the tempo of it, so you can have a little bit more from that.

SPEAKER_00 5:24

Yeah, the wave and but like I don't yeah, for me, the it was it was so much about the emotion, about like the feeling of being in the place, um, or the feeling before the heat, or yeah. So, and it that that played a lot into it for me, I think.

SPEAKER_03 5:38

Cool. So you're a big like feeling person versus in your head.

SPEAKER_00 5:43

Yeah, like so much of my career was or and still is and has been like before a heat. It's like a more of a am I like how do I feel before the heat? Do I feel that like ah, like okay, I feel like I can just relax and surf? Like, yeah, it's not that visualization of like, okay, I visualized surfing this wave a million times. Um, that really I found that doesn't work for me. And it's more like visualizing like how I feel before the heat starts.

SPEAKER_03 6:11

Oh, I love that.

SPEAKER_00 6:12

Yeah, and so it like puts me in this like place of like, oh, like okay, like I don't know, like my shoulders relax and I relax and I go, okay. And I get in the water and I'm like, oh my gosh, okay, I'm excited to be here.

SPEAKER_03 6:21

That's so sick. I mean, yeah, I I don't know if you know, but I did competitive gymnastics for like 20 plus years, and I learned how to visualize so much so that like you your body doesn't know the difference. Yeah, and I think it's so insane how powerful our brains are to be able to basically create like it kind of makes you realize like life is just a simulation.

SPEAKER_00 6:39

It's so funny, right?

SPEAKER_03 6:40

It's so crazy. Like when you can unlock that skill, you're like, oh, I don't even need to be there. I can literally just visualize yeah.

SPEAKER_00 6:47

Gymnastics, I imagine, was would have been crazy because you can picture like your routine, yeah, really clearly about it.

SPEAKER_01 6:54

Very clearly, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 6:55

Because it's the same. Um, surfing, I always had trouble with it because I'm like, wait, what if this wave's different? What if that one's different?

SPEAKER_03 7:03

Yeah, I didn't even think about that.

SPEAKER_00 7:04

Yeah, so I always I always had trouble with that. And so I yeah, that's when I moved to like I just I just if I can let myself go, then I know that I'll surf the best I can surf on whatever comes.

SPEAKER_03 7:15

Oh, I love that. Were you kind of always more of a control freak getting into surfing or no?

SPEAKER_00 7:22

It's my whole career, like I mean, most of it was pretty free. Like I kind of just surfed and like we filmed a lot, and I love filming little movies and just um kind of the freedom of it, I guess, and like doing big maneuvers and like not thinking about how I was surfing the wave, just doing what I wanted to do in that moment. Yeah, um, and then when I got serious about competing, like that was probably like a couple years into um me being on the tour. Uh like the the first couple years, I was I was doing fine, I was doing good, but I was inconsistent. I would have a really good event and then a really bad event, and then a really good event and a really bad event. And that's kind of I feel like is what free surfing is like you have a really good session and then you have a really bad one. But it and free surfing doesn't matter. Yeah. So for the competing, I finally was just like, okay, I actually want to win now. Um, what do I gotta do to win? I have to, I have to focus here. I have to like, I have to control this a little bit better.

SPEAKER_03 8:22

Yeah, you're like, I can't just go with the flow anymore. Oh, damn.

SPEAKER_00 8:25

Yeah, that's wild. Yeah, yeah, I mean, you still can to a certain extent, but you definitely like, like you said, with the visualizing, I feel like um it's like yeah, you can visualize something so much that it would just become it just happens. And so when I was doing that, visualizing that feeling before heat, as soon as I would start that process, it would just like happen and I would touch the water and I would just feel like, ah, okay, here I am. You're like in flow state. I could be thinking about something before the heat, like or before I put my jersey on. But as soon as I started that process and that routine of like getting to the water, um, that thing that I had visual, that's like the part I visualized.

SPEAKER_01 9:05

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 9:06

Walking down, seeing all the people, grabbing a jersey, getting down to the water, uh taking a deep breath, like kind of going through that process. That's what I visualized. And that's for me was like um it was just crazy. Once you did it a bunch of times, it just clicked in and you it fell into place every single time.

SPEAKER_03 9:25

That's insane. Like the consistency of that. And then you realize too, you have so much more control because you have that flow state every time.

SPEAKER_00 9:32

Yeah, and you're able to like, it's so much easier just to like relax and like let go and do it.

SPEAKER_03 9:37

Yeah, absolutely. And I think too, like when you were saying that, it reminded me so much of I was hypnotized by a sports psychologist once. I like went to a sports hypnotist. That's crazy. I know, and I was like, is this like woo-woo? But he works with a lot of the guys with the LA Kings. Oh, cool. And I'm like, okay, so he has to be somewhat legit, right? Yeah. He was telling me though, like, when you can enter into that flow state, your body will take over and the muscle memory allows, and so your brain can turn off. And I think for you, yeah, you get you you figured it out without even needing a hypnotist.

SPEAKER_00 10:09

But I hypnotize myself.

SPEAKER_03 10:10

Yeah, literally. And I think too, with your sport, like you have to turn your brain off to some degree because the wave is the one taking you.

SPEAKER_00 10:18

Exactly. And so, like, if you're overthinking it too much, then it's it just doesn't work with the ocean. Like, it you take off on a wave, and if you're like, no, this is the what I'm gonna do on the wave, yeah, the wave might not give you that. And so you have to be like in those milliseconds decisions of like, oh, I'm going here and I'm keeping my speed through here, and this is how I'm balancing through this turn, and then oh, okay, that now that's happening. Yeah. And so you're making the decisions as you're going, but if you're thinking, you're not quick enough. Yeah. Like so you can't be thinking and you just have to let it happen.

SPEAKER_03 10:50

Yeah, that's such a trip. I can't even imagine doing gymnastics on something where I can't control it. Like I'd freak out. Like on something consistently inconsistent is like so trippy to me.

unknown 11:02

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 11:03

Oh my God. Well, okay, I'm actually super curious then, like how you kind of apply that adaptability and resilience to like your injuries. I know you've kind of struggled a little bit with some injuries at some really unfortunate times. Kind of walk me through how you handled all that because you handled it like a champ.

SPEAKER_00 11:19

Yeah, the injuries have always been had a lot of injuries, maybe too many. But um, it's actually been a kind of a cool thing because, and I'm sure you know this, but like from competing, it's kind of cool how you can take a lot of these things and apply it to different parts of life. Yeah. Um, the thinking, the calming yourself down in situations. And uh for the I just kind of did the same thing for the injuries. I I took everything I was learning competing, and I was like, okay, I can't compete, I'm injured now. So I'm I just kind of took it all and then put it into the injury. And like, okay, now this is what I'm doing. And I put my you know, meditation and my visualization and just everything in learning and focusing and routine into getting better at being injured. Yeah, like healing, essentially, and and not being like overwhelmed or overly emotional. Um I mean, some of my injuries happened at really inopportune times. You know, like I one my first ace, my first major ACL tear was uh like part way through the season, and I was it was actually the farthest ahead I ever was. Um in leading the tour. Yeah, and I had the best start I ever had, the best I was feeling. Um like I won two events and another finals, and it was just like I was really far ahead. And so to tear my ACL and then be like, Whoa, okay, I I am taking a step back to go get surgery to get this fixed, you know.

SPEAKER_03 12:51

Um with all that momentum as well. It's so hard.

SPEAKER_00 12:54

Yeah, it was such a hard thing not to be like really emotional about the whole thing. Absolutely. But like from competing, I learned a lot of just like, okay, take a step back, breathe, and we're gonna go do this now, you know. And it's just this is part of the process of whatever process I'm on, like this is it. Um, and so yeah, that's kind of how I learned to deal with my injuries, and it always made it not fun, but kind of fun. Like it's a new challenge, it's a new challenge, yeah. Which is another challenge, like it's the same as trying to win a world championship, but you're just trying to heal your knee or something like that, you know.

SPEAKER_03 13:29

It's obviously a little bit less of an exciting situation. But still, yeah, it's a challenge. I mean, I think that's a really cool outlook as well, because I think every athlete can relate to getting an injury, especially at an unfortunate time. I mean, I like broke my ankle right before my senior nationals, and I was like one of the best in the country at the time. And it's just like, fuck, why now? Why now? Of all times to get hurt, like, why right now when I have all this momentum, I'm set up so good. Like it's a layup, you know? But I do think like God or the universe, like really truly kind of puts those things into place to test us as people, to test our character, test our resilience. And I felt like you did a phenomenal job at pulling through at the best time. I mean, you still managed to come back, what, six months after the ACL?

SPEAKER_00 14:20

The first one was yes, I think I did the Pipe Masters, and that was like, and that was actually maybe seven months after. Um, and that was after the ACL reconstruction.

SPEAKER_03 14:30

Holy shit. Um six, seven months after a full ACL reconstruction.

SPEAKER_00 14:35

Yeah, that was a that was a hard one. Um, but then the other one was an ACL reattachment. Okay. So it's a little less uh in it's still a pretty just a flush mind, it's fine. They're just not they're not ready, you know. And so um that one was a lot quicker. Uh but that was for the Olympics to try to get back for the Olympics. And so that I remember that. I think that was like two and a half months or something before I was like starting to surf again.

SPEAKER_03 15:04

You had to be back in two and a half months.

SPEAKER_00 15:05

Yeah, to be like back in the water and back on a board. And that was that was pretty terrifying. But uh um had a great surgeon. And yeah, we did it.

SPEAKER_03 15:17

Shout out Dr. Kramer.

SPEAKER_00 15:18

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 15:19

That is so I remember when I was actually living at home at the time, and I remember my dad telling me about that situation. And obviously, in gymnastics, there's a lot of knee injuries.

SPEAKER_01 15:29

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 15:29

I mean, a lot of injuries in general, but to hear that like he was under a great deal of pressure as well. Because I mean, you're a big name, it's a huge public surgery. He's like, I'm like saying prayers for him. I'm like, hopefully it goes well, hopefully he can come back in time because it's either gonna be really good for him or really bad.

SPEAKER_00 15:50

Yeah, and that was a name, that was a fun the the second one, it's just it was fun because it was like, okay, like it's I put every day, I was like, I have a goal to surf in the Olympics, which is in like uh I think it was like two and a half months or three months or something. Oh my god. And I was like, I'm just gonna see what I can do to get there. Like I want to be there for it.

SPEAKER_03 16:10

And you were already qualified in everything, so you just needed to be healthy.

SPEAKER_00 16:13

I just needed to be healthy to compete. Um Damn. And so yeah, I did everything that I possibly could 24-7 all day, every day. Um, and then I just it's cool to see like that it worked, and you can you can get your body going, you know?

SPEAKER_04 16:28

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 16:29

Um and I wouldn't say that I probably competed my best, but I definitely was I I'm pretty stoked I was able to show up and like surf.

SPEAKER_03 16:38

Yeah. I mean, the the tough thing is too, I think what we forget is like you're putting all of this time, energy, and effort into your into recovering your knee, yeah, versus like the time that you could have been sharpening your mind or training. Yeah. Like you were completely set at a disadvantage.

SPEAKER_00 16:54

Just put your it's crazy because when you put your mind completely into something else, yeah, and then you're jumping back into competing, like one, you know, like within weeks of surfing, yeah. It's it's pretty hard.

SPEAKER_03 17:08

I mean, you're literally like learning how to ride a bike again. Yeah. Like it's kind of fucked.

SPEAKER_00 17:11

Yeah, because it takes like it takes two weeks of like little sessions of like moving, seeing how things feel, you know. Like it takes it, it takes a minute to get going.

SPEAKER_03 17:20

Well, you can't even trust your body at that point because you've had, you know, yes, you can trust it because you're you're hoping that the surgery went well, but also you're still like developing that confidence in your body again.

SPEAKER_00 17:32

Yeah, it's like the I remember doing an air in one of my first heats, and I was like, okay, I haven't really done like an air yet. And but here I go, I'm going for it. And I was like, okay, that felt pretty good. It's like that was okay.

SPEAKER_03 17:45

Imagine doing like one of your craziest skills and your tricks and just like praying your body just holds up under it. You're just like, I don't normally think about is my knee gonna be able to take it. I'm thinking about how the hell am I gonna land this, you know? And like I get that. Like I tore my Achilles um three years ago. Yeah, it was it was tough. But I remember that process, like getting back into gymnastics because I could have retired. I was like, you know, like maybe this is kind of the universe in my body telling me it's time to just like you know, put them up. But I'm like, but if I can flip after tearing my Achilles, like how much confidence will I have to be able to work out and run and do everything, you know? If I want to get into beach volleyball or whatever it is. So and I knew I was really active, so I'm like, let me just test my body, see how far I can push it. Yeah, and I was kind of like you like when I got into my recovery, I put my head down.

SPEAKER_00 18:38

And it's kind of fun to do that. Yeah, it's nice, it's a new challenge. I'm like, I'm controlling my controllables, fully into a routine and just like, yeah, uh it weirdly makes life a little simpler because you're like, I know what I'm doing.

SPEAKER_03 18:50

Literally, like I hired a personal trainer. I was like, work out every part of my body except my Achilles, and like I want to be able to hit the ground running when it is good because I don't want to feel like I can't trust my body. Yeah, like that's an awful feeling as an athlete. Yeah, and I feel like when you do go through those injuries, like you you have trust issues again.

SPEAKER_00 19:07

You kind of have to it takes a while to like fully trust it again.

SPEAKER_03 19:11

So walk me through the Olympics. How was that experience emotionally, you know, mentally? I obviously it was so taxing, I'm sure. Like the crash is probably crazy.

SPEAKER_00 19:18

Yeah, the the first Olympics was interesting because just cause I spent so much time just getting there. Um, and then it was the COVID Olympics, so it was like really bizarre and weird, and not I don't know, everyone's like, this isn't what it's like.

SPEAKER_03 19:32

Um and what was the location for that one?

SPEAKER_00 19:34

For Japan and Japan.

SPEAKER_03 19:35

Yeah, okay. And my dad went with you guys for that, right?

SPEAKER_00 19:38

Okay, and then so and we had a great time there. It was it was super fun. The waves were pretty average, but uh it was a really cool experience. Um and yeah, I guess it was just like I don't know. I wish I had treated it more like everyone was like, the Olympics are so different, you know? And everyone's like, it's a whole different event, it's a whole different thing. And I wish I had treated it more like a normal event.

SPEAKER_03 20:02

You're like, is it though?

SPEAKER_00 20:03

Like it's still surfing, you're still surfing the same way in the water. Um, so yeah, that that was the one thing that I kind of took from it. I was like, oh, that was like okay. I wish I had approached that a little differently.

SPEAKER_04 20:15

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 20:15

Um, but then it was funny because then we went to the the next Olympics in Tahiti. We were in Tahiti fruit.

SPEAKER_01 20:22

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 20:23

Um and then that's not during COVID time, so it was like a I mean, we're not in Paris with everyone, but it was very different than the Japan deal. So it kind of was different. Yeah, you're like well, it was just way more structured. Like they're like, okay, your practice time is at this time. Okay, when you go for your heat, you have to check in at this time, and then you have two minutes to get here, and then you have five minutes to get there. Well, and so it's this very like scheduled thing. Yeah. I it actually threw me off a little bit because I went into it with this like information in my head from the previous one of like, no, I just need to treat it more like an event how I kind of approach my heats. And for me, before I have a heat, I like to watch it and then I like to go off, I like to be by myself kind of and get in my routine. Yeah, but that like totally throws it off, and you're like, Oh, okay, wait, okay, now I'm like I'm sitting next to the competitor I'm about to surf against for the like 15 minutes before the heat, which is weirdly quiet on the boat.

SPEAKER_02 21:28

No, it's so awkward, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 21:29

And so I was I I wasn't like prepared for all all that side of it. So it it threw me a little bit mentally. I was like, wait, okay, no, just I gotta get back into my zone. Okay, I can find my zone on this little boat.

SPEAKER_03 21:43

Yeah. Well, and you're like, you're kind of on call because you're like, wait, there's like so much time structure that you're like, do you need me right now? Do you need me? No, totally. It's always like that hurry up and wait that I like cannot stand.

SPEAKER_00 21:54

Exactly.

SPEAKER_03 21:54

Oh, I hate that. Yeah, I need to unplug. I'm like you. I'm like, I would go to the bathroom and literally visualize by myself.

SPEAKER_00 22:00

It'd be like doing my own little process of it. But um yeah, so that was like and that it it's just interesting how it changes, you know, and you're kind of like, Oh wait, I now I can't do the routine that I like like so much.

SPEAKER_03 22:10

Yeah, that kind of brings you back to your core center and and gives you that structure that you need to feel good going into the heat.

SPEAKER_00 22:17

But it but it was cool though, because it was just a different way of doing it. Um and it was it really opened my eyes, like, oh wow, okay, there's definitely not just one way of doing this.

SPEAKER_03 22:24

Like, oh, for sure. I mean, you you you kind of see that. I think obviously with surfing, it's tough because it's a bit more of an independent sport. Like you don't have a team. Obviously, you're part of team USA.

SPEAKER_00 22:36

Yeah, and and like you kind of have, yeah, you're not part of a team with other surfers.

SPEAKER_03 22:40

Yeah, so you're not seeing everyone's process the same way. Like with gymnastics, you're even though it's an individual sport, you're also in college, anyways, you're on a team.

SPEAKER_01 22:49

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 22:49

And so, like, I would see my teammates, you know, dancing, having a good time. And I'm like, am I broken? Like, why do I feel like I'm gonna throw up and I need to run to the bathroom and visualize for five hours, you know?

SPEAKER_00 23:02

No, that was and that was another thing for the the Olympics for us that was different is um you're at you're kind of part of that team, yeah, you know, and so you're staying with the team, you're practicing with the team, and then you're possibly surfing against the team. And it's just like this really bizarre, weird thing. Like, I feel like they're like, okay, we have dinner tonight. Every, like everyone sits down at dinner and eats dinner together. And it's really fun, and it's a whole different thing. But I'm yeah, like I'm definitely like, I like my own space. I like to be like doing my own thing. Yeah. Um, so that made it really tough.

SPEAKER_03 23:32

I know it like forces you to do stuff. You're like, I'd rather be home in my hotel room, yeah, not talking to anybody. And like, too, I think it's tough because it kind of is a bit of like mental warfare because you're you're looking at your competitors, what they're eating, what they're doing, and you're like, should I be doing that? Like you start to question yourself. Especially when you're I mean, you guys are literally competing against each other for that top medal. Like, obviously, you want to win.

SPEAKER_00 23:56

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 23:57

Who was your like biggest competitor that you were like hanging out with?

SPEAKER_00 24:01

Well, I was with I was there with Griffin and Kahiti and then Kalohe and Japan. Got it. Um, and yeah, so both amazing surfers. I ended up surfing against Kalohe in Japan and lost to him. No way, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 24:15

Um and Kalohe is a beast, I will say.

SPEAKER_00 24:18

He's so good. And then uh Kalohe though and I have grown up together, and so we're really we're we're really good friends. And cool. Actually, like when we were on tour together, we hung out quite a bit anyway. So that was like pretty fun. Um, but uh so it wasn't too new, wasn't too new, you know. But um Griffin is also a good friend. Like, I love Griffin, yeah, but also just like a fierce competitor and doing his thing his way, and uh like just totally different than my process. Wow, and so I'm just like trying to like, okay, like I want to be a part of it, but I don't want to be a part of it. Like I want to be doing my own thing.

SPEAKER_03 24:50

Yeah, because you're like kind of worried what people think, yeah, totally. But then you're also like, wait, I need to do my thing my way.

SPEAKER_00 24:56

And and surfing is pretty fun too, because like um, I guess it's kind of cool. We get to create our own team, you know? Really? Well, kind of like through the tour, like I've created a team around me, you know. Like I have my coach, yeah, yeah, yeah. Um, my good friend Brandon, who kind of helps manage everything and like the housing, the cars, and everything. And then I have my wife, and um, sometimes I'll have my brother or a friend come on. So you can kind of create this little posse, posse, yeah, like a fun atmosphere, you know. Yeah, that fits to like my lifestyle, and like and it fits to like what we all like to do, and we're just good friends hanging out.

SPEAKER_01 25:31

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 25:32

Um, so when you go to the other, when we went to the Olympics, it's so different. There it's like a lot of people that you've never met before, trainers and cooks, and all these things going into it that are um just very different.

SPEAKER_03 25:44

Well, and you have this well-oiled machine with your posse because you're like, you're gonna do this, this is your role, this is your role, and you guys kind of all are in this flow state. And then when you know your wife is in the stands, you're like, wait, where's my wife? I need her to calm me down or to just be there to kind of give me that familiarity.

SPEAKER_00 26:01

Such a different, yeah, such a different thing. Um, but like I said, just not bad bad, it just different. So it's kind of cool to experience that.

SPEAKER_03 26:10

Which one was your favorite out of the two Olympics?

SPEAKER_00 26:13

Um, it's hard to say, they were so different. Um, Japan was really fun. Tahiti was cool. It was it was cool to see, I guess, it just a little bit bigger, you know, like it had it had that bigger feel to it. Japan was a weird, like giant setup for pre-COVID situation, I guess. And then there was a it was a ghost town. So it was it was really weird. Yeah. Um, but also just really fun. Like we had a really good time, and you know, like Carissa and Caroline are there, and uh, they're both good friends too, and then Katie was there for the last one, and um just a it was just fun, like vibes all around, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 26:53

So sick. How was the Olympic come down? I always talk to my Olympic friends, and I I've heard so many different reactions and stories.

SPEAKER_00 27:00

The first one I had left, and I was kind of like um just processing it. I I didn't feel too much of a loss or anything. This the Tahiti one, I definitely felt the loss a little bit more.

SPEAKER_03 27:11

Um because you had expectations set going in.

SPEAKER_00 27:13

I think I had expectations set going in. I was feeling really good and I was like fit, and then I lost pretty early on. And it was just like when that happened, I was just like, oh, that buildup for that. And and I feel it for people, you know, like in when you have a career that's based on the Olympics, like so you work like years up to that one event, that one moment, like we're pretty busy, you know, on the tour. Like, we're like for me, the tour is very important and the world championship. So, like we're constantly moving. So we left the Olympics and we're like straight into another event. Yeah. So I kind of had that like time to like go, I guess just put my mind on something else.

SPEAKER_01 27:49

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 27:49

But uh, yeah, I can't imagine that the feeling of like a loss after like the or I mean even if you win. Yeah, I mean, it's all like a come down after, but yeah, after working so much to go into it.

SPEAKER_03 28:00

I can't even imagine, especially I think with all the prep and everything that you did, because you were on this like crazy fast track with recovery, yeah. And you're like go, go, go, and you have all this structure. Yeah. So then when the Olympics happened and then you kind of had that drop-off, like, do you think it was tough just because it was like lack of structure? Like you kind of like, I did all this thing to get to this peak, and then now what now? Um, or did you just have you were like, you knew you were gonna be on the tour?

SPEAKER_00 28:26

I think the well, the the first one was like, yeah, just I almost felt relieved in a way, just to be like, okay, I'm not, I didn't destroy my knee, I'm all I'm all good. Yeah. The second one though, like just being healthy and going into it and having like I think being in Tahiti too, like a lot of people expected me to do well in it. And so I felt like I really let people down, which is a hard one, you know? And so yeah, I I don't know. That that's what made it feel like the hardest is just like you feel like you let like your family down or whatever it is, you know, and you're like, I I know I could have done really well at this event, yeah. Um, and so yeah, that that that kind of hurt the the most.

SPEAKER_03 29:05

That's a tough pill to swallow. Yeah, does that connection to your family and your core community and your support system like is that what drives you to compete well?

SPEAKER_00 29:16

Um, it's funny, not not so much. Like then when you do bad, but then when you do bad, I let them down. Like, damn, I I let them down. And I guess the Olympics though, like is pretty new in surfing. Yeah, you know, still. So that was our second Olympics in surfing, and everyone gets really excited about it. It's like, I mean, it's the Olympics, you know, and it's like to be able to be a part of it in our sport is pretty big, and um Hawaii has a lot of like history with the Olympics, you know, with Duke and Carissa and like with surfing and just the whole thing, and so it would have been yeah, really special to like win that, but at the same time, it's just like yeah, I I think that's why it felt if I felt like I really let people down.

unknown 29:57

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 29:58

When you were at the Olympics, did you think that that was your final Olympics, or do you think that there's still one left in the tank?

SPEAKER_00 30:06

Um, I think there's still one left in the tank for sure. We yeah, they're still figuring out how the qualifying happens for our next one. But yeah, um, yeah, there's so there's still I still have like an opportunity to be able to, I think, hopefully compete, maybe compete next year for on the tour, because that's looking like it might go there for the qualification.

SPEAKER_03 30:26

Okay, sick.

SPEAKER_00 30:27

But then there's also qualification outside of our tour. Um got it.

SPEAKER_03 30:32

There's different opportunities to qualify.

SPEAKER_00 30:34

Yeah, and so to be honest, I haven't really been like, oh yeah, I'm gonna do it or I'm not gonna do it. Um, but I think there is an opportunity if I really want to.

SPEAKER_03 30:42

Hell yeah.

SPEAKER_00 30:43

Yeah, to at least try to qualify for it again.

SPEAKER_03 30:45

Sick. So you still have a little bit of fire end to you.

SPEAKER_00 30:48

Yeah, it's I mean, it's there. I love competing. I love all of it, you know. And I I took it this year off competing on the tour again. Um and not really as a retirement, but just as like a I I couldn't wrap my mind around it quite yet, like coming back. Oh, really? Yeah. And I just when I go, if I go back, when I go back, I I really want to be like, oh, I know what I'm going back for, and I feel it, and I this is what I want to do. Cool. Not really just to go like, oh yeah, I just want to win. That's fun, because it's it's it's kind of fun, but it's it's not really it, you know.

SPEAKER_03 31:24

It's not fulfilling at the end of the day.

SPEAKER_00 31:25

No, it I mean the winning's cool, but it lasts like a very short time, and it you always realize it was the whole process before that was really fun and enjoyable. Um but yeah, now with my family and stuff, it's it's harder to mix those two together because competing and serving, or I mean competing in general is it's very selfish. As you know, it's like you're all into what you're doing, your day is like fully consumed, mind is fully consumed. And so I just couldn't wrap my head around it yet. So I did I just felt like I can't go back to competing until I'm like, yes, I know how I want to do it, you know.

SPEAKER_03 32:03

Yeah. Do you think that you would approach it differently since you aren't able to be as selfish, like you won't be as all in?

SPEAKER_00 32:12

That's that was kind of my worry a little bit, you know.

SPEAKER_03 32:15

Like I think I was like, you might slip back into that extreme line.

SPEAKER_00 32:19

But like I just I don't want to go back if I'm not gonna go there to win. Like the only reason I'm going back is is to like it it's hard to explain because I talk about like winning's not important you know, but I hear you. But then also like if I'm going back just to be uh be there for it, that doesn't make sense to me either.

SPEAKER_03 32:39

Well, it's tough when you have a kid, yeah. So because now there's a lot more writing on it. You're like, am I gonna take time away from spending this quality time with my child to just half ass it?

SPEAKER_00 32:49

Yeah, exactly. Yeah, yeah. No, I get it. I follow it. Yeah, yeah. Um, but also just me being on the like whenever I've been on the tour and competing and stuff, it's always been for me just like, oh no, I'm here to try to win. And that I guess that's the fun in that process. Like you're on that process to win. You know, you're not on the process of like, oh, hopefully I'll make it heat tomorrow. I'm gonna party tonight and enjoy this trip to South Africa.

SPEAKER_04 33:15

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 33:16

You know, like I enjoy that process to get to try to win. Like, there's a lot that goes into that.

SPEAKER_03 33:21

Wow. Yeah. That's actually really impressive that you've managed to have so much longevity in your career and so much success in your career while focusing on winning.

unknown 33:32

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 33:32

Because like you can't control so much of your sport, you can't control who you're competing against. No, you can't control how much they're training, no, what they're doing. You can't control the fucking wave. Yeah, you know.

SPEAKER_00 33:41

But I think that's what I learned though, is like it's that I at the start the year as like, okay, my goal is to win. Okay. I want to win.

SPEAKER_01 33:49

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 33:49

That's that's why I'm here. Um, and then I kind of like put that on the side. And I go, okay, now here's the path to that. And I'm gonna do everything I can. I know that I can't control it. I know that I might not win at the end of the year.

SPEAKER_04 34:03

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 34:03

I'm not counting on winning, but I might lose. I don't know what's gonna happen, but this is the path that I'm setting. That's the driving force. That's that's the path that I'm setting to get there. Got it. And so, yeah, I don't know. It's just I enjoy that process of like full commitment, I guess. I guess that's what it is, right? It's it's the full commitment of it. Like 100%. I enjoy being committed to it.

SPEAKER_03 34:23

I couldn't agree more. I'm that's I'm the same way.

SPEAKER_00 34:25

Maybe it's not like just the winning, it's it's more the full commitment.

SPEAKER_03 34:28

And so understanding that about yourself and understanding that you now have other responsibilities and finding that balance.

SPEAKER_04 34:37

Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 34:38

I think I was actually gonna ask you like, how do you manage with you built an entire business for someone who's got their head down and wants to win and is so devoted to their sport? It's really impressive that you've managed to develop so many things outside of your identity in just surfing.

SPEAKER_00 34:57

Yeah, how do you do it? And that's where I think like sometimes I go, like, oh, maybe that's how it could work with family, you know? Like there, there are downtimes. There are times when you're like, I gotta get my mind off of it for a second, and and I think it's healthy. Um, and so that's where in my life, like through like learning how to sail and uh or building our own brand and business, um, all these different things, it's kind of given me a little bit of an avenue to go, like, oh, I'm gonna take my mind off it for a second and put it into something else. And it kind of creates excitement back about like I don't know, it's like having like a weekend off, you know, yeah. Of that like hardcore just training and recovery and surfing. Um yeah, it's kind of giving me that little sidestep break for a second and then back into it. I'm like, okay, here we go.

SPEAKER_03 35:44

Yeah. Is that why you decided to launch the brand?

SPEAKER_00 35:48

We decided to launch the brand for um a lot of reasons that were just happening at the time. I think I think things just kind of lined up and um it just kind of felt like the right time, I guess, to like try to do something. And I love I've always loved being like on the creative side of things and learning, and um, it was definitely scary to be like, oh my god, yeah, I'm gonna take a chance on this and myself.

SPEAKER_03 36:14

I get it. I literally just launched a fucking podcast. It's launching tomorrow. It hasn't been launched yet. And I'm like, how do people do this? Like it's so and it just made it forces you to be so introspective and be like, why am I questioning myself? What is myself worth? Yeah, what am I doing it for? What's my purpose?

SPEAKER_00 36:30

Yeah, exactly. And I think just um trusting your gut on it, you know, and just be like, nope, I I know this is what I want. I know I'm gonna question it. I know there's gonna be times that are that I'm thinking that this isn't great. Yeah, but I think this is the right path right now. And yeah, I guess knowing that you can always make a change too.

SPEAKER_03 36:47

True. You're you can always shift gears, pivot. Yeah. I mean, it's your brand, and I think that's the cool thing is that no one is going to do it the way that you do it.

SPEAKER_00 36:56

Yeah, and it's been really fun because it's like, um, I just feel like it's ultimate freedom and what I want to do. I've been it's been able to like support me on whatever path I go on. Um I love the product side of it. And so it's and now that I have my brothers on board with me.

SPEAKER_03 37:14

Oh, are they?

SPEAKER_00 37:15

Yeah, it's like cool, it's become this, I don't know, something I could have never dreamed of, really.

SPEAKER_03 37:19

That's so fun. It's like a family business. Yeah. When you got into the business side, how did you apply everything that you've kind of learned through surfing like to this new venture?

SPEAKER_00 37:30

I think just like the learn for me, I'm still learning, you know. We have an amazing team here that that helps run everything. And so I'm still just learning and I want to learn as much as I can about it. And I guess that's where I applied like what I've done with competing. Like I learned how to compete and I learned how to like go through the process of learn of like doing it and problem solving and figuring things out.

SPEAKER_01 37:51

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 37:52

Um, and so kind of taking all that to the business and just being curious and asking questions and yeah, not it just it doesn't matter if it's a dumb question or what. Like, if I don't know it, I'm like, wait, what?

SPEAKER_03 38:05

Yeah, just communicating with your team constantly. And I think all that all that is is true is like connecting with them and and deepening the relationship of your brand.

SPEAKER_00 38:15

Yeah, totally. And and the communication is a huge one that I've learned, you know, like it's and I'm learning it's just through our whole team is making sure everyone we're all like help hopefully we're all on the same page and we're all going in the same direction, and everyone is just talking about how they're feeling about it or why we're making decisions on certain things. So the communication has been a big one for me to learn.

SPEAKER_03 38:39

And learning how to be a leader. I mean, you haven't really had in your sport, you haven't really had to lead very much in a team aspect, right?

SPEAKER_00 38:48

Yeah, yeah. So for the most part, like other than like kind of the little team I create on the road for myself, you know, like um it's just a totally different yeah, world.

SPEAKER_03 38:57

Yeah. Do you think that growing up, being the oldest out of three boys with your single mom, do you think that kind of helps set you up to learn how to lead?

SPEAKER_00 39:07

Um, yeah, I would say so. It probably helped a lot, you know. Um always looking out for my younger brothers and just uh because you're kind of the man of the house, you know? Yeah, it feels like that. Yeah. Um, so I think I learned a lot of that just being, I don't know, I guess when I was really young. Not not letting letting my brothers play.

unknown 39:28

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 39:30

I'm so glad that they're a part of the brand though. That's so cool.

SPEAKER_00 39:33

It's really fun. What a dream. Yeah, it's uh like I said, it's I couldn't have dreamed of it being any better.

SPEAKER_03 39:39

For me, anyways, when I was kind of entering into this new realm of like stunts and gymnastics and everything, trying to figure out what I wanted to do, like I didn't like relying on something I couldn't really control, like stunt jobs. Yeah, it felt very inconsistent, very sketchy to like rely on something, you know, financially. So I kind of built my business to be able to have more stability. So for you, do you feel like building your business has created this like I guess has taken the pressure off of serving? Because you guys rely on each competition to get paid, right? Besides obviously sponsorships.

SPEAKER_00 40:16

Yeah, I think everyone's a little bit different in serving's a funny one. Like uh, you can make money from the tour. There's people who make money from social media, um, there's people who make money from sponsorships. Um, and all those rely on you to be to be pretty consistently doing a lot of it's on competing. Yeah. And it always has been for us. Um and so this kind of allows, I don't know, I feel like it allows me to have a little more freedom in like what I'm choosing to do, um and have the kind of creativity behind like follow the curiosity behind it and be like, oh, maybe I want to go do this right now. And like this whole brand is around like being outdoors in general, it's not just surfing. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 41:00

And so it forces you to like really tap into other aspects of your personality.

SPEAKER_00 41:05

Yeah, and I feel like so, like me being off tour, like last year we spent a year, we sailed from with Lauren, my wife, and our son, we sailed from New Zealand to Fiji to spent six months in Fiji, then to Vanuatu, then to Australia.

SPEAKER_03 41:18

No way, yeah. And you learned how to sail?

SPEAKER_00 41:21

Yeah, so I've been learning to sail, like it's just been a side hobby of mine.

SPEAKER_03 41:24

Okay.

SPEAKER_00 41:25

Um, and a few years ago we sailed from Hawaii to Fiji, which was took like 20 days. Um, yeah. Holy crap! Yeah, and then so it's just been kind of over the years that like when I get breaks, I've been learning it um more and more, and I'm still learning it. But uh now with like been able to really kind of commit to it a little more, and it's like been a dream of mine to do that. But it's cool because the brand is set up to support, like it's it's set up for like it almost works better, yeah, because we're built around just like hey, being outdoor and being in the water and mountains or whatever it is, yeah. Um and it's not so much around competition, so it's like it's yeah, it's kind of this really cool. I don't know, it feels like everything's really balanced. Like, and we're so we're doing that again this year. We're actually going from the Caribbean through the Panama Canal to Tahiti and then across the Pacific to Fiji, New Zealand by November.

SPEAKER_03 42:17

Holy shit. Yeah, so that's so epic. I feel like too, what's so cool about your guys' brand is like now you have that alignment, but you also have it like makes sense in your brain for the brand. So you're like kind of doing business, yeah, totally. But also mixing with pleasure.

SPEAKER_00 42:34

Yeah, it it like all like lines up really nicely, yeah, which makes it really fun.

SPEAKER_03 42:39

Uh but I think that also just it it's such a big testament to your brand as a whole being so authentic to you, yeah. Because like you've made it your own and you're acting every day to kind of replicate that brand.

SPEAKER_00 42:54

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 42:55

And then so when people see your brand, I think that's what makes it so successful, honestly, is like they see you and they see the brand and they're like, that makes sense. It's like a no-brainer.

SPEAKER_00 43:03

Yeah, you know, and and when when I was competing, it was a little hard because um like 2024 was my last year. I was on tour, and it it's tough because I'm so focused on surfing, and I'm that's like the only thing I'm focused on. Yeah, so not that I wasn't focused on this, I in my off time I was, but I just had a lot less of my mind going to this, you know. And it was funny because it didn't really like not really trying to be like a Nike, like where it's like performance only insane. Um it was it's more this like we uh really just want to make stuff that like inspires people to go outside and do whatever they want to do, but outside, yeah. Um, I love when you get something that you're like, I gotta go use this. Yeah, what am I gonna do this weekend, you know? Yeah, and so that was kind of like my thought behind it. And so now that I'm able to go do this and and like lean into that whole side of it more, it just feels really good.

SPEAKER_03 43:58

Well, especially now I think with social. Media, people are craving connection outdoors more than ever.

SPEAKER_00 44:03

Yeah, it's it they really are.

SPEAKER_03 44:05

Um, and so it's yeah, it's kind of kind of nailed to timing.

SPEAKER_00 44:09

Cool timing to be able to share it all and and do it.

SPEAKER_03 44:12

Yeah, I always say like the people like Bark, who made incredible paddle boards and all of these, you know, different um things that just like you know are gonna make a positive impact, yeah. Totally like and create really core memories and really nice quality time.

SPEAKER_00 44:29

So I I love that about so many different like there's so many brands and products out there that do that. Um, but that's yeah, kind of what inspired us.

SPEAKER_03 44:37

What's been the hardest thing about running Florence?

SPEAKER_00 44:40

Um, I think the just like learning how to work with like a bigger team overall. I think in the beginning, like the communication side of things and like uh was yeah, trying to figure out how that like it's like we have a pretty big team now.

SPEAKER_03 44:54

It's huge. Yeah, we're literally in the offices right now. Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 44:56

Literally huge.

SPEAKER_03 44:57

I was like, okay, John John.

SPEAKER_00 44:59

Damn. Yeah. And so um, and there's so many things happening. Yeah, just trying to stay kind of somewhat connected, but not get too in the weeds on things, too. Like I find myself sometimes like I'll pick on really small things that probably don't make too much of a difference, you know. But then it's like I'm missing the overall big picture of it. Um so just learning how to like yeah, I guess see where I put my energy in it.

SPEAKER_03 45:27

Yeah, I think sometimes too, what we forget is when we have too much time on something, it's almost debilitating. Yeah, because we get too perfectionist on it. Yeah. And it's like I've noticed that with like balancing social media and the podcast and my you know YouTube channel series, it's like almost having more stuff on my plate has made it better.

SPEAKER_00 45:45

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 45:46

Because then I'm not micromanaging myself, yeah, exactly. And I'm not micromanaging my team because I'm just kind of like, whatever happens, happens. We're just gotta put it out anyways. But yeah, that's I can't imagine running this big of a team.

SPEAKER_00 45:58

It yeah, I mean, like I said though, we have a really good team, and so everyone's like super on it. But um, it's it's definitely hard to like wrap my head around it sometimes.

SPEAKER_03 46:08

You're just you wake up one day and you're like, How the hell did this get built? Yeah, it feels like it just blinked, and now it's this massive enterprise brand.

SPEAKER_00 46:16

It's crazy.

SPEAKER_03 46:17

And obviously, too, throwing another wrench into the plans, not even a wrench, but like another thing to your plate, becoming a husband and a dad.

SPEAKER_04 46:27

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 46:28

Does was that part of your plan? Did you plan this all out kind of timeline-wise, or was it just kind of just happened naturally?

SPEAKER_00 46:35

It has been happening. Um, everything's, I feel like, just been happening as it yeah, has. Yeah. Um, the we had we had our son the last year I was on the tour, and that was like an overwhelming year because I had the Olympics. Oh my god. I had the tour, and we were having our son mid-year.

SPEAKER_03 46:52

Oh no.

SPEAKER_00 46:53

And so it was like this.

SPEAKER_03 46:54

Not enough planning, actually.

SPEAKER_00 46:56

Yeah, yeah, maybe not enough planning. Maybe more planning would have been nice, actually. And so right before the year started, I remember just going, okay, here we go. Like, this is gonna be good. And it was just, I don't know, it just worked out amazing. Like the one of the best years of my life, just in the sense of like it was really tough on the second part of in the second half of it, once we had our son, and like I I was traveling quite a bit. Um, like we literally had our son, and then I left the two days later to Tahiti. No, yeah. But it was before the Olympics, but no, for our tour event. Okay, okay. The Olympics was a little before that. I can't remember if it was before. No, the Olympics was after, actually.

SPEAKER_03 47:40

Okay.

SPEAKER_00 47:40

Um, yeah, so we left a our tour event in Tahiti. But it was cool because I like it just made it like, okay, I'm leaving, I'm going to compete, and that's why I'm there. It made it really like clear of like weirdly enough to be like, I know why I'm here, I'm putting all my effort to be here. Yeah, if I'm taking time away from my family, then I'm gonna compete.

SPEAKER_03 48:00

It's gonna force you to lock in because you're like, I'm making the most of this trip. Exactly. Because I could be at home with my wife.

SPEAKER_00 48:06

Yeah, and so that was really fun to go like, okay, went to Tahiti, and then I got a second, and then uh I flew home for 24 hours and then left to uh El Salvador, which is pretty far.

SPEAKER_03 48:19

Oh my god, yeah, so far.

SPEAKER_00 48:20

Yeah, and then uh ended up winning El Salvador, flew home for 24 hours, and then flew back to Brazil. Um the jet lag goes crazy, I'm sure. I don't know if you realize, but El Salvador and Brazil are somewhat close to each other. Yeah, and Hawaii is so far out of the way. So yeah, it was it was just this crazy amount of travel on on the whole thing. Um, but I don't know, it was kind of fun. It was kind of like this like, whoa, like here I go, I'm going all the way home 24 hours. Like, okay, that felt pretty good. A little rest to see the family. Like, I never would have done that in the past. I would have just been like gone, you know?

SPEAKER_04 48:57

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 48:58

Um, but it's weird how 28 or 24, 48 hours at home can really like reset. Reset. Yeah. Like I never realized how that short amount of time could reset so much.

SPEAKER_03 49:09

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 49:10

Um, and so yeah, that was like uh it was just cool to kind of go through that that process of it.

SPEAKER_03 49:16

I never really thought of it like that because I feel like a lot of surfers are nomadic, you know, they're kind of a nomad, they're bouncing from couch to couch, and that's kind of the culture of your guys' sport. So I always find it so fascinating the transition of becoming a father and no longer couch riding and you know, being gone for six months at a time. You you do have roots now, and yeah.

SPEAKER_00 49:38

So you're either taking them with you or you're uh flying back and forth. And I mean, he was a newborn at that point, so it's it was me flying back and forth.

SPEAKER_03 49:47

Yeah, and you're like, you stay there, I'll see you in 24 hours. Oh my god, that's so insane. But I feel like maybe, do you think that maybe traveling all that time, as much as yes, it could be taking a toll, do you think it helped you mentally to just be like, I have my purpose, I need to go back to, and then I'm just gonna go back and just quickly knock out this competition?

SPEAKER_00 50:08

Yeah, I think it did. It just it made it very like clear. Like, I guess, like, okay, I'm now I'm gonna compete, now I'm home, now I'm going to work and compete, and now I'm home. Um, whereas before it was kind of this like free-flowing, like, okay, now we're going to El Salvador and we're here a little bit early, and okay, now I'm gonna start getting ready. And um gives you time like almost overthinking. It was kind of what you're saying though, about like when you're too consumed into one thing, you have you're kind of like overthinking all the little parts of it.

SPEAKER_04 50:37

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 50:38

But when you're doing other things, you kind of just are just like, okay, this is how it's happening. I guess we're doing it now. Like this is how this is how it's gonna go.

SPEAKER_03 50:45

You can't help but have to jump into the flow state immediately. You don't have time, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 50:48

And you there's no time to overthink. So it's it was uh kind of a fun way to do it.

SPEAKER_03 50:53

So do you prefer competing now versus when you were single and had you know all the time in the world?

SPEAKER_00 50:59

Um, I think competing now is pretty fun because I I don't know, it's cool to have the experience of it, you know. Like I've I've had a lot of experience of surfing heats now, yeah. Um over the last 20 years of my life. And so when I go into a heat, like I know the process that I want to get into, I know the feeling that I want to have. Yeah, it makes it a lot more fun and a lot less stressful, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 51:24

You know, because your body's already like, well, we did this, we've proven ourselves, now we can enjoy the ride a little bit.

SPEAKER_00 51:29

Yeah, I did a small we we sponsored an event in Hawaii at Pipeline just a couple months ago. Cool. Um, and I haven't done many events like in the last year, but I did this event just for fun. And I didn't know how it was gonna go. I didn't do anything to get ready or anything. And I I mean I surf every day, but nothing competing-wise. Yeah. Um, and I just thought it was so fun and amazing, like how like I just clicked in, like as soon as my jersey went on, just from doing it so many times. That's such a trip. It was such a trip, it just like started happening, and I was like, whoa, here we go. Okay, like this is cool. Like I'm back into it now, you know?

SPEAKER_04 52:05

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 52:06

Um, and so it was really fun to surf that event, and like I got second at it, but it was like powers activated by the jersey. Yeah, it was just like it was so cool to be go through all the different heats, and the waves were really challenging, but like just fell into it, you know? Yeah. Um without having to think too much about it.

SPEAKER_03 52:25

And that's probably such a cool moment to realize like I can do this with all the stuff on my plate. Yeah, I can manage it, but also enjoy it too and still be present.

SPEAKER_00 52:35

Yeah, and so that that was definitely a cool feeling. It woke me up a little bit. I was like, oh, do I want to go again?

SPEAKER_03 52:40

Yeah, like maybe retirement's not as close as I thought.

SPEAKER_00 52:42

Yeah, yeah. Um, but I definitely go back and forth with it.

SPEAKER_03 52:46

Yeah, I'm sure.

SPEAKER_00 52:46

I'm like, I really enjoy my life right now.

SPEAKER_03 52:50

Yeah, what is it about you know, the the battling with the idea of retirement? What's really holding you back?

SPEAKER_00 52:58

I think um I just feel young and I feel like I I just feel like I can win again. And I think that's like the hard thing, you know. But then that deep down I know that it like I said before, it's like winning is never really the answer, I guess. Or the I know it's not like super fulfilling.

SPEAKER_02 53:16

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 53:16

Um I like the process of it and everything, but uh so it's I'm like in this, like, I don't know, it's hard to let it go when you know that you could there's still potential in my mind. I'm like, I know I could go back and really like give it a good shot at winning. Like um, so that that's always that that makes it really tough.

SPEAKER_03 53:36

Yeah, you're only 33, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 53:38

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 53:39

And you s I still can't believe you were the youngest one on tour at 13.

SPEAKER_00 53:44

No, no, no, no.

SPEAKER_03 53:44

Oh, okay.

SPEAKER_00 53:45

No.

SPEAKER_03 53:46

But you were the youngest to compete at a pipe master.

SPEAKER_00 53:49

Yeah, when I was really young. Um, but I wasn't on tour, I just I had a wild card or something in at that point.

SPEAKER_03 53:54

Um did you officially get on tour?

SPEAKER_00 53:57

I got on tour when I was uh 18.

SPEAKER_03 54:00

Okay. Yeah, got it.

SPEAKER_00 54:01

Yeah, so it's been uh a few years back to back to back with the injuries and everything, but um yeah, and our tour is like a it's non-stop. I mean, we have 11 to 12 events a year, all on different sides of the world. Like oh my god. And uh it would be easy if they were like two-day events, you know, but they're five three to five day events, yeah, and 14-day waiting periods. So wait, what?

SPEAKER_03 54:31

Yeah, because you oh, because you have to wait for the waste to be good. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 54:34

Oh my god. And so you have a waiting period, and then you gotta get there. So each place you're like there for like almost like three weeks.

SPEAKER_03 54:40

I had no idea.

SPEAKER_00 54:41

Yeah, so you're in this like you get there and you're like, okay, it doesn't look like it's gonna run for the first five days.

SPEAKER_03 54:47

What?

SPEAKER_00 54:47

Okay, we're sitting and waiting, and that just gets exhausting.

SPEAKER_03 54:51

I remember actually my dad when he was in Tavaro recently, yeah, and he was like, Yeah, we're still waiting for the heat to start, like, probably won't happen for another week or so.

SPEAKER_00 55:00

No, it's crazy. It's sometimes, yeah, we've had events where the event runs, doesn't run until the last three days, and then they go boom, boom, boom.

SPEAKER_03 55:07

Um my god, my type A personality could never you really have to go with the flow then.

SPEAKER_00 55:13

Yeah, you're really just like, okay, just enjoying the place, not thinking too much about this heat.

SPEAKER_03 55:17

Well, I was gonna say that's tough. You have to, you kind of have to like prolong the getting ready process because otherwise you're gonna be too locked in for too long.

SPEAKER_00 55:26

And so you have to be in this, like, I don't know, I guess it's like a relaxed focus. Yeah, you know, and so it's like ready to go when it needs when it's gonna happen.

SPEAKER_01 55:36

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 55:36

Um the forecasting's pretty good now, so you have a good idea of like uh pretty sure it's gonna run on this day. Yeah. But it's still like the travel and then like the it's just it's a lot. Oh my god. Back to back to back to back.

SPEAKER_03 55:49

I can't even imagine. I I travel with Red Bull Cliff Diving.

SPEAKER_00 55:52

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 55:52

And I cover, I'm like TV show host for them. Oh, cool. So like, but I've only gone, I mean, last year they did four events, yeah, and it was all over the world. And like I I know they're starting at Indo this season, yeah, and they're doing six stops. And it's like that's only half of your guys's.

SPEAKER_00 56:08

That's crazy, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 56:09

And we're I think ours are only four days.

SPEAKER_00 56:12

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 56:12

And we're not waiting for forecasts. Yeah. And that travel is already a bitch. Like that is such a gnarly travel trip. So yeah.

SPEAKER_00 56:20

So like this year, their schedule, they have um three events in Australia back to back. Okay, so at least they're trying to make it at least a little bit more it's so it's not too bad, but like if you're not from Australia, you know, that's a long time way from home. So you have the three events back to back, then it goes straight from Australia to New Zealand, then straight from New Zealand to El Salvador, then straight to Brazil. So it's six events um from Australia, New Zealand, El Salvador, Brazil, all back to back.

SPEAKER_03 56:48

Like you're like, I might as well just stay out there for six months.

SPEAKER_00 56:51

Yeah, it's like months, it's months on the road. And so it's crazy. What yeah.

SPEAKER_03 56:57

You're like, how's Darwin feeling about travel?

SPEAKER_00 57:00

We just flew here and we're like, oh my gosh, one five-hour flight, and you're like, this is a nightmare.

SPEAKER_03 57:06

Yeah, I can't even imagine. My neighbor has two little babies, and like they just got back from the Olympics in Finland, and like I just I don't know how you she was like, 10-hour trip with two little ones is not for the week.

SPEAKER_00 57:20

It's no, it's so crazy. And so our son, right now, he's almost two, and so he's like really active, yeah. Especially on the plane, oh yeah, and running around, kicking the seat in front, and screaming and crying, and then sleeping, and you're just like, oh my gosh, this is it's really crazy. Uh like it's our our last flight. We we're like, okay, we're gonna, we got it. We're gonna push his nap. He's gonna sleep for the first half, it's gonna be great. And the second half, we just have to entertain him for a little bit. Push his nap, he sleeps for like 30 minutes.

SPEAKER_03 57:52

Oh no.

SPEAKER_00 57:53

And then we're like looking at the time, we're like, what are we gonna do?

SPEAKER_03 57:56

We did not plan for this, we did not prepare. And you're just like praying everyone around you is empathetic and just like understands that it's just it's the grind of having a two-year-old.

SPEAKER_00 58:06

We had one flight uh late last year coming back from Australia, and we're it was a we had a short flight, and then we had a 12-hour flight after.

SPEAKER_02 58:15

Oh god.

SPEAKER_00 58:16

So we're fine back, yeah. And it was the on the short flight, he our son, he's like crying towards the end of the flight, got like plain movement sickness.

SPEAKER_03 58:26

Motion sickness.

SPEAKER_00 58:27

Or like maybe because his ears couldn't pop or short.

SPEAKER_03 58:29

Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 58:30

Threw up all over me puking, like, and people are handing us like tissues, and he's crying, and and I'm trying to make him puke in a bag. And he's like, how do you teach a one-year-old to put the bag away? And I'm like, this is my biggest nightmare ever. And I didn't bring a change of clothes. No, and so I'm like in the Sydney airport, like, oh my gosh, like I smell so bad. This that was just like the worst. Like, my wife goes and buys me like an I love Sydney shirt.

SPEAKER_02 58:59

I was just gonna say, like, she had to go to those freaking tacky little shots in the airport.

SPEAKER_00 59:04

Oh so now, but now we've learned like take off and landing, he's gotta be like chewing something or like drinking water or something. Okay. Um, unless he's sleeping.

SPEAKER_01 59:14

Got it.

SPEAKER_00 59:14

Otherwise, like the ears get blocked. But it's just like these little things, and I'm like, I always have a spare set of clothes with me. Yeah, now you know.

SPEAKER_03 59:21

Prepare for the worst, hope for the best.

SPEAKER_00 59:23

Yeah, and I was just but you have these little learning things, but it's still just like it's it is so much harder.

SPEAKER_03 59:29

Yeah, that's gonna be so gnarly if you do end up going back on the tour and traveling with like a three or four-year-old.

SPEAKER_00 59:35

Yeah, because I would want to bring them everywhere. Of course. But I I don't want to sacrifice the time missed with them, you know.

SPEAKER_03 59:40

So And that's how you grew up, and you turn out okay. Yeah. So why not? You know? Just homeschooling.

SPEAKER_00 59:45

But just a little more flights back to back.

SPEAKER_03 59:48

Yeah, that's yeah, that's gonna be crazy. Yeah, but hopefully, you know, I mean, your wife seems like a champ.

SPEAKER_00 59:54

Yeah. Uh uh my wife's a champ. She's definitely like, okay, like this is what we're doing.

SPEAKER_03 59:59

I always say, I'm like, wives of professional athletes are built different. Yeah. Because it is one of the toughest jobs.

SPEAKER_00 1:00:07

Going with it on yeah, always the emotional roller coaster.

SPEAKER_03 1:00:11

Just go with the flow. Well, I have one quick question before we get into a little segment, but I just want to know what do you want to leave with your sport? Because I know you've been going back and forth with your retirement, but like, what do you really hope to leave as your legacy in the sport of surfing?

SPEAKER_00 1:00:27

Um that's a big question. Um, I don't really know. I guess just like that you can do it your own way.

SPEAKER_03 1:00:34

Um I love that.

SPEAKER_00 1:00:35

I yeah, it can be your own style, it doesn't have to be someone else's style, it doesn't have to be a coach's style. Um you can have your own approach to it, you can be creative with it, and you can still be successful at it. Like it doesn't have to be someone else's path.

SPEAKER_02 1:00:49

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 1:00:50

And I think that's what made it so fun for me was like like I had a lot of good advice when I was younger, but and even when I was getting really into competing, but like helping me to understand that I can do it my way um was uh like kind of like eye-opening for me. And I'm like, okay, cool, yeah, like that actually sounds really fun. And I'll train this way and I'll I'll set it up how I want to set it up.

SPEAKER_03 1:01:15

Yeah, it's empowering.

SPEAKER_00 1:01:16

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 1:01:17

Because you're like, I have control over my own thing.

SPEAKER_00 1:01:20

Yeah, and so I think that was like pretty cool is that you can you can do it your own way.

SPEAKER_03 1:01:25

I love that. I think especially now in this day and age where everyone's trying to copy and paste from the successful ones.

SPEAKER_00 1:01:32

Yeah, yeah, totally.

SPEAKER_03 1:01:33

You know, you see a legend, you're like Kelly Slater, you know, like let me let me try to do it how he did it. What is he doing to like recover and all these things? And it's like, well, dude, what works for you?

SPEAKER_00 1:01:41

Totally, what works for you. Yeah. And you have to go through that process of like, oh, this worked, this doesn't work. Oh, I like hanging out with people and that gives me energy, or no, that doesn't give me energy. Um, and just figuring out how you want to do it. Yeah, I don't know. I guess that's what I hope I can leave with it if I if I can.

SPEAKER_03 1:01:59

I think you're also gonna inspire so many people to invest outside of their sport. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 1:02:05

Because that's rare. Yeah, and I think that's just like another uh way from I guess me to be like, yeah, just there's not one way to do it.

SPEAKER_03 1:02:14

Yeah.

unknown 1:02:14

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 1:02:15

Would you ever put Darwin in surfing?

SPEAKER_00 1:02:16

Um, I oh I serve, I just I don't care if he's like a competitor or a professional surfer or anything like that. I just hope he likes surfing so we can surf together.

SPEAKER_03 1:02:26

Oh yeah, you can have your quality time back. Yeah, that's so cute. I would love that. That's so fun. I always I feel like with surfing, it's one of the biggest like generational type sports where you grow up surfing with your dad. Yeah, it's a family, it's like a family thing. It's a family thing. Like, I mean, I grew up in a surfing family. My dad surfed, my little brother surfs, my older brother surfs. So I mean, you surfed with Ren for a little bit. Yeah, totally. Yeah, it's so interesting. Like, I've always noticed that about Surf and I love that about your guys' sport. Yeah. Because it's just such a family affair.

SPEAKER_00 1:03:01

Yeah, there's just such a side to surfing that's like so far from the competition side of it that is very, I guess, wholesome.

SPEAKER_03 1:03:08

It's so wholesome. It's like an art as well.

SPEAKER_00 1:03:10

Yeah, and so I I really love that side of it.

SPEAKER_03 1:03:13

Oh, I love that. Okay, well, I have a fun little segment that I do at the end of every show where I ask my followers to ask us for advice because we have so much wisdom and so much experience in so many different ways. But um, it's called Dear Athlete, and the first question is what's one piece of advice you received that's completely altered your outlook on life?

SPEAKER_00 1:03:36

Um, one piece of advice I received. I guess that what I was just talking about was that like um it does like I I can kind of do this how I want to do it. Um and it doesn't have to be yeah, someone else's way. I that I don't know, for some reason that one sticks out to me, and that one really helped me to be able to like make big decisions in my life and what I'm doing, and you know, everything from the way I competed, the way I did my process, the way I got ready, the way I surfed, um, to making decisions of like winning the world title and then not going back to the next brand, like and just saying, no, I'm gonna do something else now, or like starting my own brand. And so, like, I think like that was like some really helpful advice.

SPEAKER_03 1:04:25

Yeah, you're like, I'm I'm John John, I'm gonna do it my way.

SPEAKER_00 1:04:28

Yeah, this is what I would feel like doing right now. And the yeah, I feel like going down this path.

SPEAKER_03 1:04:32

And I love it, and it's working for you. Yeah, and I think it's gonna also open some avenues for other athletes again to just realize that they can do it their way, and there's really no set playbook.

SPEAKER_00 1:04:42

No, there's no set playbook to like even within competing, like everyone competes totally different, and the way they approach it is totally different, and um and same with like surfing has so much style to it, like everyone's style is so different the way they surf. Um, but it doesn't have to be like someone who's been there already, you know. Yeah, like make it your own.

SPEAKER_03 1:05:04

No, like I can completely relate to that because that's what set up my career was doing something completely off the book, yeah, completely different than what anyone else has ever done. Yeah, and I think nowadays with social media and just sports in general, uniqueness is being celebrated. Yeah, I think a lot more than we think. For sure, yeah. Because people are gonna get tired of watching the same shit over and over again, you know? Yeah, like wake me up, you know, like throw something crazy you've never seen before. I think that's what people are looking for now is what sets you apart, not what keeps you in line.

SPEAKER_00 1:05:36

Yeah, exactly. And we're and it's cool because we're all very different. Yeah. And you just have to follow that.

SPEAKER_03 1:05:41

And utilize that to your strength. Yeah. Why not tap into like your uniqueness and what makes you different? Because that's what's gonna really again set you apart and and give you an edge. Yeah, totally. I couldn't agree more. Okay, second one is what's something I can do to get the extra edge in my sport? Maybe on a day to day.

SPEAKER_00 1:06:00

I think something you can do to get the extra edge is I like the visualization stuff. I think that's really important because you can spend a lot of time doing it and when you get good at it, it becomes a lot easier.

SPEAKER_02 1:06:13

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 1:06:14

Um with practice, as with anything. But um whether you're visualizing how you want to feel for it or what your actual routine is, I think it's incredible what the mind can do when you see something over and over and over again, and how you kind of just like fall into that once you're doing it.

SPEAKER_03 1:06:32

Oh, yeah, I genuinely don't think we're using even a fifth of our brain, you know. Like there's so much untapped potential when it comes to mind work and breath work as well.

SPEAKER_00 1:06:42

Like I learned breath work's so incredible.

SPEAKER_03 1:06:45

Breath work is insane. I mean, people will have full-blown convulsions from breath work, like which is yeah, such a trip to me. But yeah, like learning how to breathe in order to calm my nervous system. I'm like, what a freaking like it's with you all the time.

SPEAKER_00 1:06:59

Secret weapon. Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 1:07:00

And to not have that knowledge, I think would really do me such a big disservice, especially being on such a big stage and competing at such a high level. Like you need that extra edge.

SPEAKER_00 1:07:10

And it's cool because the breathing and the visual visualization is something you can do kind of anywhere at any time. Before bed, sitting on the bus. Sitting on the bus, sitting on the plane, like on your board while you're waiting for waves. It's it's pretty incredible.

SPEAKER_03 1:07:24

Yeah, I love that. And just controlling your controllables, it's so empowering to know you're in control, even when everything around you is changing.

SPEAKER_00 1:07:32

Knowing what you can't and what you can. Yeah. For surfing, that's always been important. Like, okay, I know I can't control what he's doing. I know I can't control what waves are gonna come. Yeah, but I can control how I feel about it and I can control how I'm gonna approach it.

SPEAKER_03 1:07:45

Yeah, I love that. What's one thing you swear by when it comes to recovery?

SPEAKER_00 1:07:50

When it comes to recovery, I guess uh sleep and diet, probably two things that are like I I feel like are the most important. Yeah. Um two things that can just cause stress and inflammation and that would just slow everything down. So yeah. Yeah, I would put the biggest emphasis on those two things. And then I, yeah, there's tons and tons of other things. Red light, hyperbaric, and all these other things.

SPEAKER_03 1:08:14

I did hyperbaric for my Achilles and it was a game changer.

SPEAKER_00 1:08:17

And they're it's amazing, and I love it all. Um, but they're all addition. Like you're not getting good sleep and you're not eating right and being hydrated and all those things, then uh those things won't work as well.

SPEAKER_03 1:08:28

100%. And I, for me, I feel like something that tops everything, but I think is just like this overarching theme that will really tie everything together is attitude. Yeah, like you gotta have a good attitude, you gotta have a good I I think you have to approach the injuries as again like a challenge. And I think you having that mindset going into it has set you up so well.

SPEAKER_00 1:08:48

Yeah, and if you're negative and oh, this sucks, I don't want to be here. I'm doing this, why did this happen to me? I can't believe this.

SPEAKER_03 1:08:54

The victim mentality, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 1:08:55

It's it just causes stress and it's so toxic.

SPEAKER_03 1:08:58

Yeah, and you're not gonna give 100% to every single thing that you have to do in order to get back. Yeah, so you're you might as well just half-ass her and not even try. Yeah, it's like, what's the point? Yeah, we get it, you hate to be here, it's fine. But yeah, I think just understanding like I get to, it could be so much worse. I mean, so much worse. So much worse. Like, I've been to frickin' rampage. You see those wipeouts, and you're like, I'll take an Achilles terror with that any day. Like, holy shit. But, anyways, I think that's all I have for you. Awesome. Thank you so much. Thanks for having me. It was so good chatting with you. I'm glad that we got to get you get to know you a little bit better. Yeah, good to see you again. Best of luck. I know good to see you. Before we wrap today's episode, I just wanted to take a moment to talk about something that's weighing heavily on my heart. Right now, the North Shore of Oahu is experiencing devastating floods that have deeply impacted families, local businesses, and an entire community that means so much to so many, especially today's guest, John John Florence. If you've ever been to the North Shore, you know it's more than just a vacation spot or a surf destination. It's a home, a sacred land, and a culture rooted in community that shows up for one another. And in this moment, the people of Hawaii need us more than ever. John John, along with Florence Marine X, is actively supporting relief efforts. Please do your part and show your support by donating directly through Florence Marine X's relief initiatives. I've linked everything in the description below. These communities have lost so much. The least we can do is come together to help provide resources and support the rebuilding of Hawaii. Thank you for tuning in to today's episode of Athletes After Hours and for always being a community that spreads kindness and genuinely cares for others. I will see you next Wednesday.