John John Florence Wins Vans World Cup
A Legend In The Making
Hawaii’s talented young surfer John John Florence has realized his childhood dream by winning the Vans World Cup at Sunset Beach. It was an overwhelming moment on the podium, winning the event which he first entered back when he was just 12.
Florence had this to say on his win:
This is my first 6 star Prime win, it’s at home, it’s one of my home breaks and all my family and friends are here, so it’s one of the best moments of my life, for sure. It means everything. I’ve watched these guys since I was so little growing up here and coming to events when I was six years old, getting their autographs.
John John. The world's most well rounded up and coming surfer? Stafford/SPL
The Day 3 final was a tubefest with the afternoon wind switching offshore and offering double-overhead barrels for the final. Florence emerged in spectacular tube-riding form in perfect 10-foot surf against Michel Bourez (Tahiti, 2nd), Adam Melling (Australia, 3rd), and Hank Gaskell(Maui, 4th) to win the $40,000 prize. Melling now sits in second place overall in the 2011 Triple Crown ratings, though he will need to up his game if he wants to maintain his ASP ‘s World Ranking.
Check out the Day 3 highlights here:
Florence embarked on his Vans Triple Crown campaign at Haleiwa two weeks ago where he placed fifth. The third and final leg of the Vans Triple Crown will take place on his home turf at Pipeline. The Billabong Pipe Masters gets underway on December 8, something which Florence is looking forward to:
I live right there at Pipe and I surf there almost every day in all conditions. Its going to be fun, for sure.
There was plenty of adrenaline on the beach as Sunset pumped out a succession of rides that saw almost every finalist get barreled. However Florence displayed impressive control, seemingly picking off optimum waves at will and getting and incredible amount of tube time. In the 30-minute final, Bourez and Melling struggled to keep up with his astounding form.
3rd place finisher, Adam Melling. Stafford/SPL
At one point Melling came close and was inside a game changing tube ride for almost six seconds, however he soon found himself caught inside a curtain of whitewater. Nonetheless Melling is ranked second and will get another chance when he follows John John to Pipe.
Florence’s two-wave heat total of 17 points blew away the compeption (9.5, 7.5) who would’ve needed a two-wave combination of scores to overtake the lead.
For Florence, he’s just having a blast:
I’m having fun, I surf for a living and that’s a dream in itself.
Check out the video of the Vans World Cup Finals here:
FINALS:
1st – John John Florence (HAW) 17.00pts, $40,000
2nd – Michel Bourez (PYF) 12.30pts, $20,000
3rd – Adam Melling (AUS) 11.96pts, $12,000
4th – Hank Gaskell (HAW) 11.53pts, $10,000
SEMI FINALS
HEAT 1 : Michel Bourez (PYF) 12.03pts ; Adam Melling (AUS) 8.00 ; Olamana Eleogram (HAW) 7.60pts ; Dusty Payne (HAW) 4.60pts
HEAT 2 : John John Florence (HAW) 18.40pts ; Hank Gaskell (HAW) 14.50pts ; Adrian Buchan (AUS) 13.57pts ; Raoni Monteiro (BRA) 9.77pts
QUARTER FINALS
HEAT 1 : Adam Melling (AUS) 12.86pts ; Michel Bourez (PYF) 11.33pts ; Evan Valiere (HAW) 7.16pts ; Nat Young (USA) 7.16pts
HEAT 2 : Olamana Eleogram (HAW) 17.83pts ; Dusty Payne (HAW) 17.50pts ; Jordy Smith (ZAF) 14.16pts ; Travis Logie (ZAF) 6.16pts
HEAT 3 : Raoni Monteiro (BRA) 14.77pts ; Hank Gaskell (HAW) 11.67pts ; CJ Hobgood (USA) 11.50pts ; Joel Centeio (HAW) 4.87pts
HEAT 4 : Adrien Buchan (AUS) 14.84 ; John John Florence (HAW) 14.23pts ; Ian Walsh (HAW) 13.37pts ; Matt Wilkinson (AUS) 9.43pts
via: espn transworld surf
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