I don’t know about you, but it’s so nice to have John John Florence back in full-on competition mode. For that matter, it’s nice to see Gabriel Medina. And Jack Robinson again. To watch those three compete, especially, is everything good about the Championship Tour. And watching Jack step up and beat Medina, who had one of the best barrel rides of the day, makes one hopeful for the season ahead.
But Mr. Florence, (arguably, of course) had what I thought was the best barrel of the day. Like an announcer misreading play-action pass in football, Kaipo Guerrero lost JJF in the shuffle as he traveled way further in the tube than the commentator thought. Which is quintessential John John Florence. He’s quiet. He doesn’t claim. He’s smooth as baby oil at one of the most difficult waves in the world. And just when we sleep on him, he goes and gets a barrel like this one. He’ll face Mr. Robinson in the quarterfinals today.
It’s finals day at the Billabong Pro Pipeline. Get your watch on here.