John John Florence

Infobox Person
name = John John Florence
birth_name = John John Florence
birth_date = birth date and age|1992|10|18
birth_place = Honolulu, Hawaii
residence = Haleiwa, Hawaii
nationality = American
other_names = Jon Jon, Two John
known_for = Surfing
occupation = Surfer
height = 5' 6"
weight = Auto lb|125|0
parents = Alexandra (mother)
relatives = Nathan, Ivan (brothers)

John John Florence (born 13 October 1992, Honolulu, Hawaii)cite news |first=Dave |last=Schreiber |title=Sports: Up Close: John John Florence |url=http://www.sptimes.com/2005/12/02/Sports/Up_Close__John_John_F.shtml |work=Sports Up Close |publisher=St. Petersburg Times |date=2 December 2005 |accessdate=2007-09-20 ] cite web |title= Stellar Profile: John John Florence |url=http://www.stellarmag.com/featureProfiles/surfing_john_john_florence |accessdate=2007-09-20 ] is an American surfer.

Life

Florence is the oldest of three children, and grew up in Haleiwa, Hawaii, in an ocean side house at the Banzai Pipeline. His parents split up after a bad marriage, and he resides with his mother, Alexandra, and his two younger brothers Nathan and Ivan.cite web |url=http://www.lat34.com/surf/jon_jon_florence |title=John John Florence - Surf - Lat34.com |accessdate=2007-11-19 ] He was introduced to surfing by Alexandra, who is a surfer herself. She has said John John's progression seemed natural to her. [cite web |url=http://outside.away.com/outside/features/200603/john-john-florence.html |title=John John Florence - Outside Online |accessdate=2007-11-19 ] Florence claims he rode a surf board with his parents at the age of six months, who put him in a life vest on john's(their dad) own board, and he was riding on his own by the age of five. o and john john is a vegetarian but i saw him eat meat one time when we were in north carolina together. John John Florence Is Openly Gay He Stated In Surf World September 2008 That He Is Openly Homosexual

Fame

Florence became well known in the winter of late 2005 and early 2006 when he became the youngest ever surfer to compete in the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing. He had previously won four amateur awards, the 2003 1st NSSA Nationals Open Mini Grom, the 2004 1st NSSA Nationals Open Boy's, the 2005 NSSA Open Boys and the Explorer Menhune Champion. He did not pass the first round, but he did score higher than Shane Dorian, a professional surfer twenty years Florence's senior. Afterwards, Florence said he was "pretty scared" but that he was "happy with how I did". [cite news |title=Thirteen-Year-Old John John Florence Tackles Huge Haleiwa At Op Pro Haleiwa. - SURF Magazine |url=http://www.transworldsurf.com/surf/news/article/0,,1131781,00.html |publisher=Transworld Surf |date=17 November 2005 |accessdate=2007-11-19 ]

Florence is also friends with surfer Kelly Slater, whom he has admired since the age of seven. Slater has said of Florence "John John's going to know the waves on North Shore like no one we've ever seen before." Singer Jack Johnson, who grew up in the same town as Florence, said he is "a little unprecedented".

Florence's signature move is the air reverse, and his worst injury was a broken ankle after doing a floater in Mexico. He also enjoys skateboarding, snowboarding and drawing. In order to stay healthy, Florence only eats natural food, and his favorites are salad and seafood.

References