This time Tahiti Pro stops at Teahupo’o to hold the surfing competition under the banner of WSL. Throughout the year, the French Polynesian surfing destination remained in the headlines because of protests against the IOC’s decision to build construction in the reefs. Notably, Teahupo’o will hold the surfing contest at the Paris Olympics. So the Tahiti Pro 2024 frames a suitable rehearsal ground for all those surfers who are chasing the Olympic berth or preparing for the main competition. The 2-time world champion John John Florence is one of them. 

The Hawaii-born American surfer has some scores to settle after his forgettable performance in the same Tahiti Pro last year. However, this time, John John Florence is hopeful about his endeavor. His hard-earned experience in the same location might prove invaluable during this journey. 

After finishing in 7th position last year, John John Florence had not returned from Teahupo’o empty-handed. Rather, now he knows how to counter those large swells coming from the deep water. Therefore, in giving out his strategy, the 31-year-old surfer said to People magazine: “You have to be 100% confident.”

But only confidence might not prove the soul saver when the consequential waves come to topple the surfer. In such a face-off, as per John John Florence, a fearless attitude could be the best weapon. A thorough assessment of the waves might be required. Nonetheless, John John Florence had his homework before stepping into the French Polynesian surf heaven. 

From his recollection of watching the swells closely, the legendary pipe surfer added an insight. Almost everyone knows about the power of those swells. But John John argued that those are machine-like waves. So, a surfer may expect a regular trend in those consequential waves. But even after remembering the gigantic form of the swells, one should keep an eye on another part. 

As per John John Florence, it is about the presence of the reef. Speaking on that segment, the battle-hardened surfer said, “It comes out of deep water and goes to this super shallow shelf — so when you have that kind of mix up of open ocean swells hitting a shallow shelf, it’s just all raw energy hitting the shelf at once. So when you fall, it’s a lot of power on a very shallow reef.” Only a pro can add those insights as John John Florence did. As of now, his sole target must have been ending the contest in a respectable position to flaunt his stake at the Paris Olympics. He has many things to prove this time. 

John John has a unique plan to carry his legacy forward

Despite being one of the principal names among the pipe surfers, John John Florence has yet to bow his head to take the Olympic medal. In the past, his only Olympic participation ticket came in the Tokyo Olympics. However, the experience wasn’t sweet, as John had to bow out with the ninth position in the men’s shortboard category. Furthermore, at the onset of his retirement chances, the Paris Olympics could be termed his last chance to present his prowess in the greatest show on earth. That had brought out John’s emotional self on one occasion.

John John Florence put an emotional note on his social media after earning the Olympic qualification in Tahiti Pro last year. Describing himself as ‘honored’, the legend wrote, “For this [Teahupo’o] to be the Olympic venue where we all compete for a gold medal feels like an exciting moment for surfing!” To make his possible last effort at the Olympics, John has an interesting strategy.

He recently explained how he keeps recorded notes, almost like a journal, to remind himself of what equipment he loves to use in certain waters. This is surely going to help him at the upcoming event and also in the long run at the Olympics.

“For my little video notes that I do, I take a step back at the end of the session and it’s like, ‘OK, I rode these fins, this board…and that worked well.’ For me, it’s so helpful to look back a year or two later and go, ‘Oh, that’s right. I was riding those fins. That was really good. Maybe I’ll go back and try that for that wave again.’ That will be a big one here with the equipment side of things, kinda noting down what’s been working, especially if we get some swell,” John had revealed. It remains to be seen if such a unique strategy help him make his mark in the upcoming high-stake events.