Watch: The Florence Family’s Long-Awaited Return To J-Bay

It’s been a strange year for the WSL.

CEO gone. Kelly on his way out. Waves less than ideal for most of the comps. 

But if there’s a silver lining in all this, it’s that we’re privileged to witness John John Florence finally return to the back half of the CT schedule for the first time in half a decade. For the past four competitive seasons (not counting 2020, thanks covid), injuries have forced John’s hand, or rather, his knees, to sit out the latter part of the schedule. Last year, it was the MCL tear at G-Land, the first event following the inaugural Mid-Year Cut, that pulled him out of 2022. 

Finally, JJF and J-Bay reunite*.

This section of the fabled South African coastline has been a long-held favorite of the Florence clan. The opening segment of John’s 2015 magnum opus, View From A Blue Moon, features the Flo Bros as pre-pubescent towheads with mother Alexandra trying (unsuccessfully) to stop them from pelting fistfuls of sand in each other’s faces. Many years later in 2013, John devoted a full section to J-Bay in his debut film, Done. It’s the reason Zager & Evans are on my Spotify to this day.

In addition to John getting reacquainted with an old flame, the above clip also shows Nathan, Ivan, and Alexandra taking to Jeffrey’s iconic walls, slipping and sliding across the windswept point.

Miscellanea includes John recalling an article about sailors, Jordy recalling a slab like “Teahupo’o and Shipsterns” that was “out of his league” (which perked up Nathan’s ears), Nathan not so humbly boasting about his pool game, Kelly Slater getting in a few lay day wiggles and, of course, elephants. 

*Tahiti too.