John John Florence and Caity Simmers Just Won Stab Surfer of the Year 2024

Click here for: Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 4, Day 5, Day 6, Day 7, Day 8, Day 9, and Day 10 of SSOTY 2024.

Thanks to the support of Kona Big Wave for making Stab Surfer of the Year 2024 possible.

Though the Championship Tour has, over the last few decades, been a fairly reliable indicator of who the best or most well-rounded surfers in a given year were, there remain a few outstanding surfers who choose not to partake in the gamification of the activity. Yet, they still stand at the top of the food chain, equally revered by those on tour and off it.

With an objective gauge of who the best are already in place, this poll — now in its sixth edition — aims to take a more holistic approach, recognizing those who have fully dedicated themselves to the act of sending it and its various sub-disciplines.

It does, however, allow room for subjective and even biased answers. You might not agree with some of them, but isn’t that the nature of opinion? People spit out their thoughts, whether you like it or not. And in the end, it’s about the space it opens up — the room for others to have their say, for the noise to keep on. Year after year.

If you’ve stuck with us since Day 1, you already know who won this year’s edition. But allow us to make it official and celebrate with a little pomp and circumstance.

A round of applause for our winners…

Stab Surfer of the Year: Male

John John Florence (189 points)

Though his reserved nature sometimes leads us to believe he’s not showing the world everything that makes him who he is, there’s very little to say about John that you haven’t already read or heard.

Recent history can be easy to forget, which is why it’s worth remembering that he won this same award in 2020 with 149 points, finishing ahead of two-time winner Italo Ferreira (2018, 2019), and again in 2021 with 108 points — just three ahead of Gabriel Medina.

John just became the first male surfer to win the SSOTY title three times, conveniently matching the number of world titles he’s collected throughout his career.

Winning a CT event in El Salvador, making three finals, finishing first in the rankings, and winning the final bout at Lowers under extreme competitive pressure should be enough for anyone to earn this accolade. But John’s legend only grows with every YouTube clip, edit, or film he releases. His North Shore performances will forever be part of the lore of the stretch of coastline where he was born, came of age, and rose to full dominance.

Let the comments of those who’ve copped his spray to the face illuminate his achievements further:

“JJF is undoubtedly one of the greatest surfers of our generation. The dedication he puts into perfecting his carves, pushing the limits with airs, and constantly creating groundbreaking surf films is nothing short of inspiring. He truly deserves all the recognition!” — Italo Ferreira

“I love watching him at home in Hawaii. He’s just insane in big waves, often throwing down without cameras around. He’s sort of a soul surfer and worthy of topping any list.” — Ross Williams

“He reads water like no one I’ve ever seen and can do anything and everything on a surfboard. To me, there aren’t really any chinks in his armor. He’s a great representation of what it means to be a surfer.” – Parker Coffin

“Honestly, I’d rather watch him free surf all the time than compete.” — William Aliotti

Stab Surfer of the Year: Male (Top 10)
1. John John Florence – 189
2. Nathan Florence – 76
3. Griffin Colapinto – 45
4. Yago Dora – 41
5. Ethan Ewing – 40.5
=6. Noa Deane – 35
=6. Mason Ho – 35
8. Gabriel Medina – 32
9. Soli Bailey – 25.5
10. Italo Ferreira – 24 

Stab Surfer of the Year: Female

Caity Simmers (224.5 points)

Caity Simmers is far from an SSOTY newbie. The skittish Oceanside phenom has earned back-to-back Best Junior Female awards in 2021 and 2022 and won the award for Best Female in 2023 — roughly a year before winning her maiden world title which, just like John John Florence, she now backs with SSOTY recognition.

During this year’s poll, Caity averaged an impressive 22.3 out of 25 possible points per day, and on five occasions, scored perfect 25s — meaning that when asked for their top pick, the vast majority of respondents spoke her name without batting an eyelid.

Simmers is the figure surfing has been in such desperate need of, but perhaps one it doesn’t deserve. That said, we really hope she sticks around for many, many years to come.

“One of my favorite surfers. Her style and approach to the wave are so unique — she draws her own lines, which I always admire when I watch someone surf. It feels more like an art.” — John John Florence

“She just surfs differently from everyone else. She’ll skip sections to do a big roundhouse, instead of just forcing a snap.” — Milla Coco Brown

“I continue to be in awe of Caity’s level. She’s the real deal and will be for a very long time. She’s the most entertaining female surfer ever — period.” — Matt Myers

“If someone came to rob your trailer park, she’d rob the robber. She’s a little fucking savage. So unassuming, so coy in her ways — an absolute serial killer. So sweet, so talented. You can’t help but be both baffled and inspired. She’s so good. She’s 10 feet tall, you know what I mean? Even though she’s 4’1’’, she’s a large, beautiful human. If you were the Guardians of the Galaxy, you’d want her on your team — she’s a weapon. If you want to save the world, you choose Caity Simmers. Help me save the world!” — Doug Silva


Stab Surfer of the Year: Female (Top 10)
1. Caity Simmers – 224.5
2. Erin Brooks – 135.5
3. Caroline Marks – 91
4. Stephanie Gilmore – 51.5
5. Molly Picklum – 50
6. Sierra Kerr – 36
7. Laura Enever – 26
8. Coco Ho – 23
9. Tatiana Weston-Webb – 21
10. Bettylou Sakura Johnson – 16.5

Stab Surfer of the Year: Best Junior Male

Dane Henry (26 Best Junior Male points + 2 Best Male points = 28 points)

Most of us would be lying if we said we knew who Dane Henry was in the first half of 2024. With a frontside hooking gaff echoing Mick Fanning, and an air game to rival pretty much anyone’s, Dane made his arrival known with an edit that appropriated the title graphics of John John Florence’s first independent release, Done, with the subtlety of a neon wetsuit in a PNW lineup.

Adding another layer of fresh-faced bravado, he dropped his last name when titling it, immediately contending with the Dane we’ve cherished for ages. For the first time in history, however, that Dane didn’t score any individual points, though he did rack up plenty via Chapter 11 TV.

Dane Henry (these things take time, young man) more than tripled the points of runner-up Jacob Turner, who caused a loud ruckus among surfing’s heavyweight and XXL factions in 2024. And based on what we saw during the recent Eddie swell, he’s showing no signs of slowing down.

A deserving winner nonetheless, here’s what some of our voters had to say about Dane Henry:

“He’s so gnarly, I actually thought he was older.” – Eithan Osborne

“He’s doing the craziest airs, winning big comps, and his new edit is insane.” – Clay Marzo

“Like everyone else, I’ve been blown away by Dane’s ability, especially above the lip. I’d say his airs are right up there with Filipe and Italo — definitely at that highest CT level. And he’s only 18 years old!” – Shane Dorian   


Stab Surfer of the Year: Best Male Junior (Top 5)
1. Dane Henry – 28
2. Jacob Turner – 7
3. Lukas Skinner – 4
=4. Timo Simmers – 3
=4. Legend Chandler – 3

Stab Surfer of the Year: Best Junior Female

Erin Brooks (30 Best Junior Female points + 135.5 Best Female points = 165.5 points)

Last year’s SSOTY Best Female Junior runner-up took 2024 by storm: winning the first event of the Challenger Series at Snapper Rocks with a 10-point ride heard around the globe, claiming her first CT victory in Fiji as a wildcard, qualifying for the CT shortly after turning 17, and hoisting a Pipe Masters trophy in conditions that rivaled any previous final held in waves of proper consequence.

Her points tally in the main category didn’t just outpace other female juniors — it rendered the competition obsolete, serving as both announcement and warning to any living female that desires to earn a living by entering surf competitions.

Women’s surfing is advancing at a mind-boggling pace, commanding more attention than ever. Surfers like Erin, Sierra Kerr, Milla Coco Brown, Tya Zebrowski, and Kiara Goold are just the surface of a talent pool too deep to fully catalog here. Like death, and taxes, women’s surfing is set to surprise and impress us all in 2025.

“I just watched her wave at Pipe from the beach, where she packed it — it was incredible. She has so much talent, more than most out there.” — Mikey Wright

“Even though she’s light, small, and young, her power is crazy and often underestimated. I’m so excited to see her on tour next year. People are already expecting big things from her, but I don’t think they realize how badly she wants it, how fast she’s improving, or how capable she is in heavy waves.” — Shane Dorian

“She was really impressive this year — the way she charges. She’s really good in the barrel, in the air, doing turns, and she’s fast. She’s a good competitor and will definitely be bringing some trouble to the tour next year.” — Yago Dora


Stab Surfer of the Year: Best Female Junior (Top 5)
1. Erin Brooks – 165.5
2. Sierra Kerr – 44.5
3. Milla Coco Brown – 16
4. Tya Zebrowski – 8
5. Kiara Goold – 3.5

Stab Surfer of the Year: Best Edit

Here & There starring John John Florence by Parallel Sea (20 points)

It’s a lot easier to talk about awards and rankings than surfing itself. Classifications give us something to hold on to — something to confirm our biases and help us make sense of the bewildering world around us. Describing surfing without resorting to tired tropes, clichés, and a touch of cheese isn’t always easy. Yet we can’t help ourselves when we say our minds were blown when Here & There dropped.

As tempting as it may be to call John’s new edit a masterpiece, that would suggest it’s finished art — meant to be hung on a wall and admired with hands folded behind the back. Instead, it feels more like a living document (we’re still waiting for There) of what happens when supreme talent and exceptional surf intersect, and both decide to show off a little. This is what surfing looks like in 2024, and we’re so lucky to witness it.

In a way, John made our lives much easier. The best surfer in the world — as voted by his peers and fans alike — is also regarded as the best surfer by five middle-aged men in a temporary partitioned booth. How could he not also command consensus for Edit of the Year

“I’m really grateful that there are still people like John who take the time to create high-quality, well-thought-out content. Every time he releases something, it feels like a breath of fresh air.” — Shane Dorian

“This was just another level of surfing.” — Mateus Herdy

“It simultaneously made me want to walk away from the sport and also go surfing.” — Stab Premium member @thectgrower

Stab Surfer of the Year: Best Edit (Top 3)
1. Here & There starring John John Florence – 20
2. Conehead starring Soli Bailey – 8
3. Nibbler starring Hughie Vaughan – 7

Stab Surfer of the Year: Best Film

Motel Hell starring Harry Bryant by Dav Fox (15.5 points)

Maybe they’re just a product of the geographic lottery at birth, but Australian free surfers just seem to do it better. Surrounded by so few things that aren’t trying to kill you, they bring an innate grit and tenacity to finding and riding waves in the most inhospitable parts of the island continent.

Motel Hell reflects the spirit of the working-class, cement-fed, recreational surfer — the dirt-covered brickie who drives 12 hours on his day off for a little wiggle down the coast.

Filmed and edited by Dav Fox, with Harry Bryant’s milk breath over his shoulder, Motel Hell broke the cycle of contrived, manufactured cool that lingered like a second-degree cousin who asked to crash on the couch and stayed for a decade.

While it carries familiar influences — McCoy-esque vignettes and a Steele-inspired wipeout section — the pair managed to create something fresh that, despite being a surreal caricature, feels honest and representative of how they actually go about their lives in surfing.

Though it premiered to limited audiences in late 2023, it wasn’t until early 2024 that Motel Hell landed on Harry’s YouTube channel, making it a rightful and eligible winner of this award.

Remember when we used to pay for this stuff?

“That was definitely my favorite film this year. It was so well done, and there were some really scary waves in there too — not the kind I’d go on a surf trip for.” — Yago Dora

“The surfing is mental — Harry is ripping, charging big slabs, and getting crazy barreled. Classic skits and acting, and the wipeout section is fucked up.” — Ian Crane

“It was crazy to watch the amount of time Haz and Dav put into Motel Hell, and it really shows in the finished product. It’s so refreshing in a world where everyone’s competing to be the first to blow a swell out on their YouTube channel.” — Russell Bierke

“Motel Hell, forever and always.” — Stab Premium member @dylan_mck 


Stab Surfer of the Year: Best Film (Top 3)
1. Motel Hell starring Harry Bryant by Dav Fox – 15.5
2. Facing Monsters starring Kerby Brown by Bentley Dean – 9.5
3. Trilogy: New Wave starring Griffin Colapinto, Ethan Ewing, and Seth Moniz by Andrew Mackenzie – 8.5

Stab Surfer of the Year: Best YouTube

Nathan Florence by Nate and Zoard Janko (21.5 points)

A year ago, Nathan Florence defeated Filipe Toledo on the last day of voting for SSOTY. The Stab Premium member vote gave middle Florence the win, with those same members helping him surpass Ho & Pringle Productions for the double whammy. On Instagram, he wrote, “Thank you everyone who voted for me!!! I am honored and will make Slab Tour 2024 the most hectic yet!”

A man of his word, Florence did just that. Arguably the hardest-working man in surfing, he not only embarked on a whirlwind of missions to waves most mortals would rather avoid forever, but he also documented the entire process — the path, the struggle, the glory, and the fails. With a production team consisting of Zoard Janko and his wife Mahina, Nate seems to be everywhere at once, churning out lightly edited, rawish videos of immense generosity for those suffering from chronic surf nerdism.

Though not directly influencing this back-to-back award win, one simply cannot overlook Nathan’s Surfer of the Year title at the XXL Awards earlier this year, his Pipe Masters win while simultaneously broadcasting it live to tens of thousands, and a 5th place finish at his first appearance in the Eddie, where he wrapped up the day by doing what he does best — entertaining his audience by packing a closeout at the sketchiest Waimea shorebreak.

If it isn’t too much to ask, Nathan, could you make Tour de Slab 2025 even more hectic?

“He’s literally just hanging out with his best friend and his wife, chasing the exact kind of epic waves he loves to surf — and YouTube pays him to live that life. It’s exactly how he’d want to live, whether he was getting paid or not. Nate’s a legend of a human, in and out of the water, and he’s super inspiring, whether it’s three-foot slabs or thirty-foot Jaws. He’s the guy.” — Shane Dorian

“When it comes to free surfing, he’s doing the craziest stuff and consistently charging the gnarliest swells around the world. I don’t know how he hasn’t gotten seriously hurt yet. He’s constantly risking his life, and somehow, he’s alright — he’s an animal!” — Matt Meola

“He’s going to crazy places that aren’t easy to surf and making them look like they are. I just like sitting at my computer, getting sweaty for the guy. I’m stressing out while watching it!” — William Aliotti

“He paddles out alone at spots that no sane person would even think about, pulls into demonic closeouts, and somehow walks away unscathed, time and time again. And when he actually makes a wave? He’s getting the craziest rides of the year, over and over again! He takes us all along for the ride, and the best part is, he does it all with a big shit-eating grin because he’s doing exactly what he wants, and he loves it.” — Jon Pyzel


Stab Surfer of the Year: Best YouTube (Top 3)
1. Nathan Florence – 21.5
2. Ho & Pringle Productions – 13.5
=3. John John Florence – 5
=3. Chapter 11 TV – 5

Stab Surfer of the Year 2024 – Final Results

Best Male
1. John John Florence – 189
2. Nathan Florence – 76
3. Griffin Colapinto – 45
4. Yago Dora – 41
5. Ethan Ewing – 40.5
=6. Noa Deane – 35
=6. Mason Ho – 35
8. Gabriel Medina – 32
9. Soli Bailey – 25.5
10. Italo Ferreira – 24
11. Jack Robinson – 23.5
12. Harry Bryant – 22
13. Eithan Osborne – 20
14. Alan Cleland Jr. – 13
=15. Kauli Vaast – 10
=15. Dave Rastovich – 10
17. Michael Ho – 8
=18. Barron Mamiya – 6
=18. Tamayo Perry – 6
=20. Tosh Tudor – 5
=20. Creed McTaggart – 5
=20. Crosby Colapinto – 5
=23. Jackson Bunch – 4
=23. Wade Goodall – 4
=23. Taro Watanabe – 4
=23. Ian Crane – 4
=23. Noah Beschen – 4
=23. Lucas Chumbo – 4
=23. Ross Clarke-Jones – 4
=30. Albee Layer – 3
=30. Benji Brand – 3
=30. Ryan Callinan – 3
=30. Craig Anderson – 3
=30. Filipe Toledo – 3
=30. Cole Houshmand – 3
=30. Rolando Stanley – 3
=30. Kai Lenny – 3
=38. Dane Henry – 2
=38. Ian Gentil – 2
=38. Torren Martyn – 2
=38. Jamie O’Brien – 2
=38. Mikey Wright – 2
=38. Jacob Turner – 2
=38. Makua Rothman – 2
=38. Jai Glindeman – 2
=38. Lungi Slabb – 2
=38. Balaram Stack – 2
=48. Bryce Young – 1
=48. Chippa Wilson – 1
=48. Kelly Slater – 1
=48. Seth Moniz – 1
=48. Rio Waida – 1
=48. Brenden Margieson – 1
=48. Joel Vaughan – 1
=48. Kolohe Andino – 1
=48. Rolo Montes – 1

Best Female
1. Caity Simmers – 224.5
2. Erin Brooks – 135.5
3. Caroline Marks – 91
4. Stephanie Gilmore – 51.5
5. Molly Picklum – 50
6. Sierra Kerr – 36
7. Laura Enever – 26
8. Coco Ho – 23
9. Tatiana Weston-Webb – 21
10. Bettylou Sakura Johnson – 16.5
11. Carissa Moore – 14.5
12. Jaleesa Vincent – 14
13. Vahine Fierro – 13.5
=14. Sally Fitzgibbons – 7
=14. Milla Coco Brown – 7
16. Tyler Wright – 5
=17. Frankie Harrer – 4
=17. Holly Wawn – 4
=17. Moana Jones Wong – 4
20. Sawyer Lindblad – 3
=21. Tya Zebrowski – 2
=21. Leah Dawson – 2
=21. Macy Callaghan – 2
=21. Zoë McDougall – 2
=25. Nora Liotta – 1
=25. Eweleiula Wong – 1
=25. Kiara Goold – 1
=25. Gabriela Bryan – 1
=25. Kelia Gallina – 1

Best Junior: Male
1. Dane Henry – 28*
2. Jacob Turner – 7*
3. Lukas Skinner – 4
=4. Timo Simmers – 3
=4. Legend Chandler – 3
6. Hughie Vaughan – 2.5
=7. Mananalu Chandler – 2
=7. Ned Hart – 2
=9. Locana Cullen – 1
=9. Harley Walters – 1
=9. Luke Wyler – 1
=9. Max McGillivray – 1
=9. Ryji Masuda – 1
=9. Jaime Veselko – 1
=9. Jackson Dorian – 1
=9. Lennix Smith – 1
=9. Kalama Stratton – 1

Best Junior: Female
1. Erin Brooks – 165.5*
2. Sierra Kerr – 44.5*
3. Milla Coco Brown – 16*
4. Tya Zebrowski – 8*
5. Kiara Goold – 3.5*
6. Eden Walla – 3
7. Sky Brown – 2
=8. Siqi Yang – 1
=8. Isla Huppatz – 1
=8. Willow Hardy – 1
=8. Kelia Gallina – 1*

Edit of the Year
1. Here & There starring John John Florence – 20
2. Conehead starring Soli Bailey – 8
3. Nibbler starring Hughie Vaughan – 7
4. Pre-Kerrsor starring Sierra Kerr – 5
5. Interlude starring Barron Mamiya – 4
=6. DANE starring Dane Henry – 3
=6. Maps to Nowhere: Chasing Seconds starring Caity Simmers, Soli Bailey, and Timo Simmers – 3
8. Experimental Dental Program starring Creed McTaggart – 2
=9. Odyssey starring Milla Coco Brown – 1
=9. Year One starring Crosby and Griffin Colapinto – 1
=9. Hard Reset starring Levi Slawson – 1
=9. HUCK starring Ryan Huckabee – 1
=9. A Forrest From The Trees starring Jerome Forrest – 1
=9. Provecho starring Jesse Mendes – 1
=9. Free Time starring Cam Richards – 1
=9. Crossed Roads starring Shane Borland – 1

Film of the Year
1. Motel Hell by Dav Fox – 15.5
2. Facing Monsters by Bentley Dean – 9.5
3. Trilogy: New Wave by Andrew Mackenzie – 8.5
4. NOAH – The Art of Surfing by Noah Beschen & Andy Woodward – 6
5. Skinny Meathead by Chapter 11 TV – 5
=6. Juju – The Surf Musical by Jaleesa Vincent and Luka Raubenheimer – 4
=6. Zipper by Blake Michel and Stab – 4
=8. Lazer Breathing Dragons by Vaughan Deadly and Nick Pollet – 1
=8. KRTV by Kalani Rivero – 1
=8. Hijinx by 2% – 1

Best YouTube
1. Nathan Florence – 21.5
2. Ho & Pringle Productions – 13.5
=3. John John Florence – 5
=3. Chapter 11 TV – 5
5. Jamie O’Brien – 3
=6. Nalu TV – 2
=6. Cola Bros – 2
=6. Jack Coleman – 2
=9. The Raglan Surf Report – 1
=9. Fun Boys Entertainment Systems – 1
=9. Koa Rothman – 1
=9. Wet Shoulder League – 1
=9. Nathan Fletcher: Live and Direct – 1
=9. Lakey Peterson – 1
=9. Jacob Szekely “Zeke” – 1
=9. Sterling Spencer – 1

*Points earned by junior surfers in the main category are also added to their totals in the junior category.