John John Florence wins 2012 Billabong Pro Rio. Photo: ASP/SCHOLTZ
The have been pretty good for 19-year-old surfer John John Florence. The Hawaiian took the 2011 Van Triple Crown Championship in December, won the Volcom Pipe Pro in January, went home with first from the Drug Aware Pro in Australia in March, and today for his first ASP Tour victory.
“Won my first title in Brazil,” Kelly Slater . “JJ wins his 1st event on tour there 20yrs later. Pretty cool for me. Known him since he was about 6yo. .”
At that age, Florence was already a bit of a veteran.
When John John was , his mom Alexandra put him in a life jacket and placed him on the nose of her board. At five years old, he started surfing Banzai Pipeline. At 13, he became the . Not long after, Robert Maxwell photographed him for ϳԹ—with his two younger brothers in tow. , he's vaulted up to sixth place in the ASP standings during his rookie year.
For a full Billabong Pro Rio wrap-up, check out this from ESPN's Jake Howard.
—Joe Spring