John Florence on Big Waves and Impact Suits

It's pretty incredible to see how big wave surfing has evolved over the last decade. From the performance side, to safety, boards and gear -- it's all improving so quickly. I can't wait to see where it goes in the next ten years.
Video Credits --
Erik Knutson @erik_knutson_
Jared Butler @jarebutter
Joao Tudella @jtudella
Daniel Jones
Production Credits --
‪@FlorenceMarineX‬
Pete Johnson
Spencer Klein
Brandon Wasserman
Photo credits -
Arto Saari

[@alikajohnson9250]

I really like hearing John's thoughts on things. More of that please

[@roguebossa]

The aerial shot of that first takeoff is just terrific, because rarely does cinematography communicate how steep that drop really is and I get frustrated that it can't do justice. Mahalo!!

[@felipes4406]

agreed. that was shocking and made me laugh, john and team's cinematography is high on my appreciation.

[@tommathews3964]

“As comfortable as possible in uncomfortable situations “ just about sums it up! Thanks, John, for bringing sensible, functional, vision to marine products!

[@hannotn]

Pretty good motto for life in general, really.

[@waynehearst317]

Really enjoy hearing JJF's perspective and thoughts on things. He's a very introspective and analytical person and we're getting a glimpse of what makes him a genius on a board. More of this content, please.

[@RamFly1A1]

After watching John charging 2reef pipeline on a 6'6 step up and blasting buckets on each turn , inspired me to charge with a smaller board , nevertheless his style on a paddilac is flawless as well, growing up and watching the adjustments he does , as much as Nathan's systematic duck dives on savage slaps, and thank you John , Florence Marine 🤙🏼🌊 is made by surfers for surfers,what a difference it does make, I'm proud to say I am a happy consumer of Florence Marine, we need life vests and more gear , Florence Marine board racks would be awesome too, since you more than anyone understand the traveling and houling of all the equipment 😎🤙🏼💯 Thank you John Florence 🤙🏼

[@macleadg]

As a non-surfer, this post is pretty much incomprehensible to me…🤷‍♂️

[@wasabiginger6993]

Thank you for sharing … and even tho I am an old timer (who grew as a teen living at & surfing Laniakea & Himalayas 60’s) … I am amazed by how much all aspects of surfing keep evolving. Back in 50’s 60’s only Flippy Hoffman was crazy enough to surf outer 3rd reef Himalayas with a full thick wet suit for floatation … and so to see what you have now is really wonderful. But when I saw Kai Lenny doing spins off the top of giant Jaws … I could not believe my eyes! Yeah, surfing just keeps going where none of us old timers never imagined possible. What I appreciate most is how much you & your brothers by example are always in Aloha no matter where you are. Not that it wasn’t present in the 60’s but was a more rough & tumble sort of time. Looking forward to some videos of you being a dad soon ❤

[@andydavidson6841]

Watched this with headphones on. The sound of the wave power is wild. Brave guys

[@jonathancox1231]

I'm an east coast boy, I've surfed hurricane waves on the outer banks and long island, but to see someone eat this is insane!!!

[@ohhreally92]

That last wave was about as perfect and beautiful as it gets. incredible vision

[@isabellejaubert-fried1622]

I downhill skateboard and some about putting on some leathers that makes over 50 miles an hour nothing but without them that’s in the back of your mind and I mean what happens during eraser when it hits the paper because that be your skin to the bone😮 equipment, expands access, and this is amazing to watch and thank you for explaining❤

[@ChoedanKal]

well put brother

[@boddysurfer]

Liking the whole Florence Line of surf tech! Such an opportunity for your family to make their mark in history. Expand the brand ! Flo-Line Flotek Ivan Megachop Triple Flo Nate the Great

[@AndrewCooperr]

Every product I own from Florence is top of the line in quality, performance, & durability. Amazing products.

[@ChickenJoe420]

You should send me some, I can’t afford it

[@AndrewCooperr]

@@ChickenJoe420 send me ur addy

[@WhoIsRozay]

Absolute Banger! The quality of the vids just keep getting better.

[@braddavis7760]

omg John ! that outer reef barrel !! what a Cave!!!

[@norman-gregory]

Greetings John, it's good to hear you talk and letting us into your lifestyle dude! I noticed that you're more reserved when there's company, you listen/observe more than speaking (maybe, just sayin). For that reason, when you talk/speak, I listen. Hey...could be a camera thing to right haha. Kudos to ALL you "Big Wave" riders. Stay safe and all the best for 2024. Mahalo from Australia.

[@Kyte316]

great vlog john was awesome! plz do more you're insight is amazing.

[@scottburrow8717]

You are one intellectual Dude!! Always innovating and helping your sport grow and get safer! 🤙🏻

[@jeffjeff4477]

Awesome video Love to hear your perspective Fun serious and incredible to see You guys are top notch in your sport

[@Bryan-jd7os]

Yay Florence Family! 😀 The wave at 3:54!

[@MM5150LA]

JJF comfort zone is obviously in the ocean so with his input and knowledge of big wave surfing and how he’s like a sponge when he’s around big wave legends that came before him and are still surfing at the top of there game like Shane Dorian and the rest of his local guys he grew up sucking up all the knowledge he could, JJF is sure my favorite to watch surf from 4ft to 40ft a young living legend.

[@outdoorTC808]

So sick J. J. F keep it up💯🌊🏄‍♂️

[@jennifuzz3316]

Love John's point of view

[@gregstarr2878]

I'm loving the gear John John. Well done!!! Your surfing looks so tight and solid buddy. Time for that 3rd title!!! Shoots little brother, get it!!!!🤙🏆☘️. Greg⭐☘️⚡

[@briana6573]

"I just dip my toes in it" says former Eddie champion John John Florence with multiple big wave ride of the year nominations.

[@BelleTolles]

champion and runner up next time around too 😊

[@donovan.t1991]

To be comfortable as you can in uncomfortable situations 🫡

[@BelleTolles]

what's amazing about this video is that you have the absolutely brilliant cinematography (as always) and then john saying brilliant things--and they don't distract you from one another. like you can watch those waves and yet listen to him at the same time. was interesting to literally see him right before the eddie hammering out a design. it's great to see the surfing world focusing on safety so much in late years, and the advancements are phenomenal. i noticed greg long in the purple jersey by john in the one shot. i always associate him with being important in the safety aspect of big wave surfing. but for someone who is just a fan of big wave surfing, john hasn't done too bad to win probably the biggest eddie ever and then come in close second in the one that followed it. 😊 and his modesty is not false==one of the nicest things about him.

[@eamonsherry2185]

Looking forward to seeing people wearing these at 2 foot Snapper

[@theneuropathyguy]

So nice gonna use my impact suit at HB Pier this saturday, gonna be HUGE 3-5!!!!

[@Julianjusteo]

Inspiring

[@johnrobinson5506]

Amazing Suit John

[@WyllSurfAir]

Very cool, would love to have seen credit given to all the surfers that you used footage of. I could recognize most of them, but good to give some of the more underground guys the publicity if you are using their footage.

[@JJF]

I will put them in the description this morning

[@bholden8625]

I dig watching things on you. I watch all your friends channels. An it's awesome you show up for them. Cause I watch sometimes cause I wanna see you kill it an a personal side. Your brother Nathan I watch when I get in from working an a new vid is out. But ya I love how you pop up on koa's, Nathan's, Jamie's an I've prob seen you on koa smiths as well. Anyway I'm from HB North Carolina. An watching y'all's gnarly coast crank up is fuxkin amazing brother. Can't wait til the next glimpse of your surfing an your awesome personality brother!!!

[@dindu551]

what a brilliant young man.

[@chrisculley3756]

I love it when you and your bros go out to outter reef and just crush it. RLTW 3/75

[@paternoneri3494]

Koa Smith and Nathan and Ivan Florence are The Best Surfers on the Planet ❤❤❤❤❤ John-John Florence is THE BEST SURFER in the known Universe ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@johnnyboygomes7924]

Best Surfer On The Planet 🌎 Winning contest’s from 2ft beach breaks to Pipeline Masters & Taking Da Eddie Aikau 30ft Waimea Bay Invitational 🔥 JJF soon to be 3x world champion 🏆

[@dingus2218]

an ad has never looked so good - up the john... my boy sits deeeeeep!

[@Steve-hs5le]

Im feeling it,Im seeing it,Im calling it John John Florence 2024 world Surfing champion 🏆 Now go and get it John Florence 🤙👍

[@joelp9486]

Nah. The tour sucks. Gotta wait three days for not so great waves and the Brazilians will wiggle their asses as only they can at boring Trestles. He should join the Slab Tour and try to dethrone the People's Champ. We could see a lot more of his surfing in better waves without the nonsense of the tour.

[@BelleTolles]

i hope so for him. but i also think the championship doesn't mean much nowadays with that one off at trestles. and with how often they seem to have awful waves.

[@ChickenJoe420]

Unfortunately wsl has agendas to push and jjf doesn’t fit that

[@stephenwolfram356]

Excellent insight and explanation of the process.

[@hannotn]

It'd be so easy to see some footage of him clowning around with his friends and think of all the old, tired stereotypes of surfers, like Jeff Spicoli, from Fast Times at Ridgemont High. And it seems that's a part of him.... a really likable, easygoing kind of guy, with a phenomenal level of skill. But you get a fuller idea of the rest of the man from videos like this, hearing that he's a thoughtful and intelligent guy. Will be interesting to see what paths he'll follow outside of surfing, much like how Kelly Slater has. Both give the sense of active minds, looking for new challenges.

[@rydershortboardmcleod]

After 5 drownings due to seizures, I have been looking and wanting to design or find a small wave floating device/vest to help keep your head above the water line also it would help your mates reducing their chances of getting into trouble reducing the risk to them being drowned also Keeping your head above the water when being smashed around by the waves that' OK but going under and sucking water into your lungs is messed up. One time, about 6 and half litres, induced coma, spending 40 days in ICU. I have checked out all the vest companies, but no luck.

[@richardelliott8352]

I can't imagine anything without the collar flotation of a regular life jacket being able to keep one's head above water and right side up, and I wouldn't bet my life in the right side up part. I don't want to seem flippant, and it's none of my business, but try to avoid the close calls if possible, because sometimes in perilous situations the brain becomes so focused on escape, it releases memories, to utilize more brain space. Firefighters have historical records of these events, where usually the older memories are affected most.

[@rydershortboardmcleod]

Memory loss and eye sight are things I have noticed most. I still have no fear of the water due to not remembering much of anything. Thank you for your reply 🤙

[@craigdgardiner]

Really interesting technology. Taking surfing into the future.

[@crf5370]

John John for US President 🙌🏽

[@ChickenJoe420]

Nathan as VP? Koa as Secretary of State

[@laurentpradayrol]

Il y a quelques temps de ça (heu ... beaucoup d'années lol ) j'observais de jeunes têtes blondes qui déchiraient les vagues des landes et aujourd'hui ils sont la référence mondiale dans le Surf , l'humilité et le courage sont des vertus que l'océan aime , un grand merci à J-J Florence pour son apport à notre sport !!

[@arottie4097]

W0W!

[@williammartin2842]

Spit out wet, happy, and thrilled. Speed puts a board in fine parts of waves.

[@mikemoloney506]

Will not say anything more about John ... WOW

[@michelob.]

Love the technology of sport! Congratulations on becoming a daddyo!

[@BodyboardPOV]

8:51 BRO THIS WIPAUT

[@titou1again]

Interesting subject. The last wave is insane!! Is it Cloudbreak?

[@Sol_Weird]

Pretty sure it's HI outer reef

[@titou1again]

@@Sol_Weird Thank you for the answer

[@richardelliott8352]

what beautiful water, it seems surf photography has also advanced, when astounding shots like that deep in the tube stuff are now normal. My old man pleasure is just gentle bodysurfing, like from back in the Giget goes Hawaiian days, where you only get hurt if you hit something. waves like shown here would go badly for me, it would be personal because the ocean doesn't like stupidity, and I know better than to even imagine being in that situation.

[@DaRealBaz]

That is such a genius idea, also catch me a El Porto surfing on the Red Tiger lol

[@Killemgrillem00]

The Eddie last year was better than any NFL Stuper Bowl . More please.

[@bobsmythe9949]

Unbelievable!

[@joseconcha4848]

Goat

[@shamu0utofcag3600]

Those chandeliers must just send them absolutely flying .

[@loubsens]

the goat

[@AdamDaigian]

Please make one of your 5/3s into an impact suit 🙏

[@josephaudebert7480]

I ll do my best to reborn you too,Eddie. I swear on the tomb of my sooooooooooooo regretted mother. Peace on earth. And then...... ❤️❤️🙏🙏😇😇

[@WHEREVER-I-ROAM]

I road a mountain bike down to JAWS, PINEAPPLE FIELDS FOREVER, GOT RELLY LUCKY WITH A RIDE BACK TO THE TOP OF THE ROAD (LONG WAY)in a pick up truck NO BIG WAVES THAT DAY

[@franciscodiazmendez9713]

❤

[@mikebranch7928]

How is bailing and duck diving with flotation in suits?

[@adammazor]

Yeah John

[@FromTheMosh]

Personally id love a spring suit with a tiny bit of padding for protection and flotation if it didn't effect my movement too much.

[@fiddlestickzmuzik]

that was cool..

[@Sol_Weird]

Have you guys seen those inflatable shorts for motorbike riders??! Look funny, but maybe something that could carryover to surfing big waves

[@c0rry]

3:08 best ride ! 3:37 real suicide attempt ! 7:36 nightmare wave that breaks outer then others

[@JC127-ny8qu]

👍

[@mess_noise]

JJF rides a 8'0? Anyone know?!! Kinda looks like his eddy board is that size.. ☝️

[@thenewtowncryer]

Florence!!!

[@Overitall805]

FMX

[@jonathancox1231]

As a surfer from the outer banks just let me say, I'll keep my 5' A frames and sand bars , yeah these young lions are crazy, !!!!

[@dingocapo2087]

just wait for the BOZO on an SUP with his impact suit on a 2-3 ft day! coming to a break near you🤣.

[@realeyesrealizereallies6828]

Tech has come a long way..Big waves are so dangerous, even for the best surfers in the world..Better have alot of experience, and not think you will be OK cause you have a pull vest(inflation vest)..It doesn't work that way..Really big waves are best left for those who grew up in the ocean..

[@ezrhino100]

This is the most involved tampon commercial I have ever heard.

[@gmau3945]

Then why not a helmet? The most critical part on your bod At least at pipe Many have sustained varying degrees of head trauma out there 🤔

[@BelleTolles]

i imagine everyone has their zone of what they can and cannot do. maybe a helmet is something he just can't surf well in. he' s making something for safety, but it may not be for everyone either.

[@hman7236]

JF the creator innovator not the imitator.

[@tracydubose265]

The guy at 3:38 gets crushed.

[@squid_fish]

Please wear helmets ❤ living for the next gen

[@storm2000808]

Maybe they can revolutionize those too. After what happened to Koa he started wearing a helm.

[@pecanhajeffpecanha8062]

Judge florence

[@DustinKeiser]

I’ve never surfed a day in my life but there’s something about the guys who tow into waves that just doesn’t seem as cool or satisfying to watch for some reason

[@darrenmarney8577]

Solid advice 🤙Stay within your limits & poke the bear occasionally 🫣