Words by Brad Bricknell

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There’s no shortage of media over night covering John Florence’s maiden world title.

The amount of posts and reposts suggests he has very quickly become the peoples champion, an unofficial title formerly held by fellow Hawaiian Andy Irons. There has always been an air of inevitability around John winning a world title, it was just a matter of when, and now that he has, it’s more a question of how many?

So what can we learn from one of surfing’s youngest world champion?

CJ Hobgood’s instagram post perhaps summed it up best for me. Along with a tightly cropped photo of John drenched in Mexican champagne, he simply wrote: Humility wins.  

My father always told me to be humble in victory and gracious in defeat, and John Florence seems to epitomize this mantra.  His interviews and speeches are always laced with modesty, yet you can see the losses really sting. But he has learnt early to harness his emotions and use them for motivation rather than a gateway to implosion.  And that is a trait of a true warrior and a sign of the mental astuteness and maturity that belies his years. And he did it his way.  With an uncompromising, innovative brand of surfing that has contributed to the direction of the sport.  John is a leader, not a follower.

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There is no doubt that hard work was a huge contributing factor in John fulfilling his destiny.  Success is a two way street and John has got out exactly what he has put in.  But he had to mix it with patience.  He has been touted as a future world champ for years, but he has not let that yoke burden him.  He has meticulously gone about his business with the steely focus of a thoroughbred racehorse, but mixed it with his own brand of laid back Hawaiian charm that endears him to the people.   

This is a big win for John, but an even bigger win for Hawaii and his close circle of friends and family.  Its significance is not lost on the brotherhood of the rock either. He is their prince and they are his Ohana and, in a lot of ways, they have all contributed to John’s success.  Nurturing, guiding and encouraging, knowing the destiny that awaits him – and now they get to celebrate their young humble warrior coming of age.

It seems unfathomable that anyone in our lifetime could equal the exploits of Kelly Slater, but maybe, just maybe John Florence is the person to do it.  I think he could, if he wants to, but for now lets pause at world title number one, and reflect on what we’ve learnt so far.

  1. Humility always wins in the long run, and having it in spades is not a weakness.
  2. Lead, don’t follow. Have confidence in your convictions – and never compromise them.
  3. There is always a pay-off for hard work. But you’ll need a dash of patience along the way.
  4. Never forget the value of family and friendships.  They are catalysts for growth.

The world title might not be going to Pipe but I, for one, cannot wait to see John do a victory lap in his own backyard.  Congratulations young man, you have already inspired so many, but we get the feeling this story is far from over.

See you in Hawaii.

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