Must Watch: Cinematic Surfing with John John Florence

When John John Florence surfs, we watch.

Of course, we see a lot of JJF surfing since he’s on the Championship Tour, and practically every time he paddles out, someone has a camera pointed on him. But compared to other surfers – with their weekly vlogs on YouTube, or frequent posts on social media – John is a little more reserved.

So, when a JJF edit comes along, it’s worth taking a look.

This one comes from surf filmmaker Tucker Wooding and, as the caption reads, “John John Florence surfing around the North Shore of Oahu during the winter of 2022-2023. Featuring clips from Pipeline, Sunset Beach, Waimea Bay during the Eddie, Rocky Point, and some sand bars.”

One thing about this edit that sticks out – it’s all in black and white. And like a fine piece of cinema, the lack of color suits John’s high caliber surfing well. This is not just surfing; it’s art. It also might be a nod to the classic early ‘90s flick, Kelly Slater in Black and White.

Another defining element of this clip is the music: “War Pigs” by Black Sabbath. It’s a pretty perfect pairing – John John’s power surfing, mixed with heavy guitar riffs and Ozzy’s voice. Music choice is always crucial in surf edits, and this one nailed it.

So, if you watch any surf clip today, this one should be it.

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