A highlight video of John John Florence Teahupo’o will scare his Olympic rivals

John John Florence always manages the impossible in the huge Teahupo’o. Photo: YouTube//Screenshot

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John John Florence grew up with the best playground in the world right on his doorstep. The North Shore of Oahu breeds a certain type of surfer; one who feeds voraciously on the famous Hawaiian juice. A surfer who learns from a young age how to harness all the energy that explodes on the shores of the Seven Mile Miracle. And there’s no one who embodies that better than John John.

At 31, Florence has two world titles, a Pipe Masters and a Triple Crown. Nobody is going to leave him out when it comes to who is the best in the world. When it comes to big, hollow, heavy left-handers, John’s approach is unparalleled. Growing up riding the Pipeline as a kid probably played a big part in that, and with the Olympics just around the corner – they’re being held at Teahupo’o, a big, hollow, heavy left-hander – the World Surf League thought it would be a good idea to release some archive footage of him surfing Chopes.

“With the gold medal on the line at one of his favorite waves in the world, John John Florence is not to be missed this month in Teahupo’o,” the WSL wrote.

Well, you don’t become a surfer like John did on your own. Although surfing is essentially a solitary activity, John’s upbringing and the people who accompanied him made him who he is today.

“As the eldest of three brothers, John, Ivan and Nathan’s mother Alexandra did not have a typical single mother lifestyle,” the WSL continued. “John and the boys were taken under the wing of the world’s best surfer and mentored by the entire North Shore community.”