Gracie & John John Florence on Pro Surfing, Hitting Pause on the WSL Tour & Chasing the Next Best Wave

They're overthinking it too much. It just doesn't work with Oshan like it you take off on a wave And if you're like no, this is what I'm gonna do on the wave. Yeah, the wave might not give you that when you were at the Olympics Did you think that that was your final Olympics or do you think that there's still one left in the tank? He's a two-time Olympian three-time world champion is one of very few to win back-to-back WSL championships Vans pipe master's champion triple crown of surfing champion is the founder of the performance apparel company Florence Marine X And recently became a father to a beautiful baby boy John John Florence. Welcome to athletes after hours. Thanks for having me so happy We can make time for this. Yeah, so fun. I feel like I haven't seen you in so long What 20 years down here Well, I am just excited to sit down and get to know you more I feel like you've been such a trailblazer in your sport for So many years and I kind of want to know like what makes you you so Let's start from the beginning. Where did you grow up? How did you even get into surfing? Who got you into it? Yeah, so I grew up on the North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii and my mom Has always been a surfer and she's from the East Coast and she moved to Hawaii when she was really young And then she just got me and my brothers in the water when we were so young and we're our whole day was on the beach when we're like babies And then so yeah, I don't know. I feel like I've been surfing for as long as I can remember Literally since like in diapers Yeah, just on the board like in front like yeah, so That's been pretty fun and it's been like a I guess it's more of like a family thing for us Yeah, it's something like we all do together. Oh, that's so cool So that's like your quality time as a family. Yeah, it's going out and surfing. Yeah, and I that's like we're surfing is like I guess it like all my surfing memories come from that And so like they're competing and everything. It's like always something that like that's like what I go back to when I think of like What I why I love surfing. Okay, I want to go back to your mom because I know that she was a single mom that raised three boys She's a freaking legend for that first of all like what about us. How was that growing up? Yeah, so But my parents split up when I was pretty young and I was I think about six or something and then Yeah, we lived my mom most time and just she took us traveling she took us to Indonesia to South Africa to Europe and like It felt like kind of every summer we would have like during our big long three-month summertime vacation. We would Go somewhere different and like live there for those months. That's it. Yeah, and so like oh my god They were being so young and being like an Indo and then just for months and months on end and then the next year was like South Africa and the next year was France or something like that and Yeah, she would just like save up as much money as she could and then like to spend it all this year and then save up again And then spend it all like this one big long trip. Wow. How long were you guys living in different countries? Like four months at a time. Oh, like she just homeschooled you all yeah, or it was like during the Our summer break. So we would take a little bit off the end and a little bit off the beginning of the next year Yeah, so it's just every summer. You guys just dropped off the grid. Yeah, that's so rad. What was your favorite place that you stayed? I have great memories from all that you know, um, we spent a lot of time in France and Europe I think yeah, we went there like three years in a row South Africa. We spent a lot of time there and then Indo. We spent a lot of time there too But just I don't know being kids. You're not really thinking about it. You're just like, okay, here we are. This is where we are This is what we're doing. This is your normal. Yeah, at what point did you realize it wasn't normal? Um, I don't think I ever realized it because I'm still doing it today That's so funny. I mean, it's no shock that you ended up going to literally some of the best surfing capitals in the world. Yeah That was that was amazing. I got to surf a lot of those waves when I was a kid and Like Jeffrey's Bay and you know, Haasigore and France and all these amazing places that these big events go do. Yeah Years later when I was on the tour and going there. I had really good memories from those places And it's a funny thing like I don't know for me when I'm competing like having those memories I guess in those feelings and those emotions about a place you have you feel really good and you feel really comfortable going there Yeah, you're so you're so calm. Yeah, you're so calm and yeah, you just you're like, oh my gosh I haven't been here in so long. I have like yeah, so it made me just excited to be back at these places That's so cool because I yeah, it's like you're kind of creating a happy place in all of these locations. Yeah, exactly We're normally you're gonna be really stressed out normally. Yeah, you're like that's a new place Yeah, what do I eat? What do I do? Like yeah, and so it was it was more of like, oh, I'm so happy to be here to see our friends and People that like we made so many friends along the way too and like long friends, you know for our family. So that's so cool I bet that also just gave you such a competitive edge because you're literally zen every location you're competing that Try yeah trying to be But at least you're familiar with the wave in the tempo of it. So you can have a little bit more for you Yeah, the wave and but like how do you have for me that it was it was so much about the emotion about like the feeling of being in the place Or the feeling before the heat or Yeah, so and it that that played a lot into it for me. I think Well, so you're a big like feeling person versus in your head. Yeah, like so much in my career was or And still has been like before a heat. It's like a more of a And like like how do I feel before the heat do I feel that like like okay? I feel like I can just relax and surf like yeah It's not that visualization of like okay. I visualized surfing this wave a million times That really I found that doesn't work for me and it's more like visualizing like how I feel before the heat starts Oh, I love that yeah, so like puts me in this like place of like ah like okay like I don't know like my shoulders relax and I relax And I go okay, and I get in the water and I'm like oh my gosh, okay. I'm excited to be here. That's so sick I mean yeah, I don't know if you know, but I did competitive gymnastics for like 20 plus years and I learned how to visualize so much so that like you your body doesn't know the difference Yeah, and I think it's so insane how powerful our brains are to be able to basically create like It kind of makes you realize like life is just a simulation. It's so funny It's so crazy like when you can unlock that skill. Yeah, you're like, oh, I don't even need to be there. I can literally just visualize Yeah, I imagine master's I imagine was would have been crazy because you can picture like your routine. Yeah, really clearly I'm very clearly. Yeah, because it's the same Um, surfing I always had trouble with it because I'm like wait, what if this wave's different? What if that one's true? Yeah, I didn't even think about that Yeah, so I always had trouble with that and so yeah, that's when I move to like I just I just if I can let myself go Then I know that I'll surf the best I can surf on whatever comes. Oh, I love that Were you kind of always more of a control freak getting into surfing or No, it's my whole career like I mean most of it was pretty free. Yeah, I kind of just surfed and like we filmed a lot and I love filming little movies and just Kind of the freedom of it I guess and like doing big maneuvers and like not thinking about how I was surfing the way of just doing what I wanted to do in that moment Yeah And then when I got serious about competing like that was probably like a couple years into Me being on the tour like the the first couple years I was I was doing fine. I was doing good But I was inconsistent I'd have a really good event and then a really bad event and then a really good event and a really bad event And that's kind of I feel like is what free surfing is like you have a really good session And then you have a really bad one but in free surfing doesn't matter. Yeah, so for the competing I finally was just like Okay, I actually want to win now What do I got to do to win? I have to I have to focus here. I have to like I have to control this a little bit better You're like I can't just go with the flow anymore. Oh damn. Yeah, that's wild. Yeah, I mean you still can do a certain extent But you definitely like like you said with the visualizing I feel like It's like Yeah, you can visualize something so much that it just become it just happens and so when I was doing that Visualizing that feeling before a heat as soon as I would start that process It would just like happen and I would touch the water and I would just feel like Oh, okay, here I am You're looking close to me. Yeah, I could be thinking about something before the heat like or before I put my jersey on But as soon as I started that process and that routine of like getting to the water Um that thing that I had visual that's like the part I visualized. Yeah Walking down seeing all the people grabbing a jersey, getting down to the water, taking a deep breath like kind of going through that process That's what I visualized and that's for me was like um It was just crazy once you did it a bunch of times It just clicked in and you fell into place every single time That's insane like the consistency of that and then you realize too you have so much more control Because you have that flow state every time. Yeah, and you're able to like it's so much easier just to like relax and like let go and do it Yeah, absolutely, and I think too like when you were saying that it reminded me so much of I was hypnotized by a sports psychologist I like went to a sports hypnotist. That's crazy I know and I was like is this like woo-woo but he works a lot of the guys with the LA Kings And I'm like okay, so he has to be somewhat legit right yeah He was telling me though like when you can enter into that flow state your body will take over and the muscle memory allows. And so your brain can turn off. And I think for you, you figured it out without even needing a hypnotist. I hypnotized myself. Yeah, literally. And I think too, with your sport, you have to turn your brain off to some degree, because the wave is the one taking it. Exactly. And so if you're overthinking it too much, then it just doesn't work with ocean. You take off on a wave, and if you're like, no, this is what I'm going to do on the wave. Yeah. The wave might not give you that. And so you have to be like, in those milliseconds, decisions of like, oh, I'm going here, and I'm keeping my speed through here. And this is how I'm balancing through this term. And then, okay, that now that's happening. Yeah. And so you're making the decisions as you're going. But if you're thinking, you're not quick enough. Yeah. So you can't be thinking and you just have to let it happen. Yeah, that's such a trip. I can't even imagine doing gymnastics on something where I can't control it. Like, I'd freak out. Like on something consistently inconsistent. It looks so trippy to me. Oh my god. Well, okay, I'm actually super curious, then like how you kind of apply that adaptability and resilience to like your injuries. I know you've kind of struggled a little bit with some injuries at some really unfortunate times. Kind of walk me through how you handled all that, because you handled it like a champ. Yeah, the injuries have always been a lot of injuries to many. But it's actually been a kind of a cool thing because, and I'm sure you know this, but like from competing, it's kind of cool. You can take a lot of these things and apply it to different parts of life. Yeah. The thinking, the calming yourself down in situations. And for the, I just kind of did the same thing for the injuries. I took everything I was learning competing and I was like, okay, I can't compete. I'm injured now. So I'm, I just kind of took it all and then put it into the injury. And like, okay, now this is what I'm doing. And I put my, you know, meditation and my visualization and just everything in learning and focusing and routine into getting better at being injured. Like, killing us. And not being like overwhelmed or overly emotional. I mean, some of my injuries happened at really in opportune times. Yeah. Now like, I want to, my first ace, my first major ACL tear was like part way through the season. And I was, it was actually the farthest ahead I ever was. No way. And leading the tour. Yeah. I had the best start I ever had. The best I was feeling. I like, I won two events and another finals. And it was just like, I was really far ahead. And so to tear my ACL and then be like, well, okay, I am taking a step back to get surgery to get this fix. Yeah. With all that momentum as well. It's so hard. Yeah. It was such a hard thing not to be like really emotional about the whole thing. Absolutely. But like from competing, I learned a lot of just like, okay, take a step back, breathe. And we're going to go do this now. You know, and it's just this is part of the process of whatever process I'm on. And so yeah, that's kind of how I learned to deal with my injuries. And it always made it not fun, but kind of fun. It's a new challenge. Yeah. It's just another challenge. Like, it's the same as trying to win a world championship. But you're just trying to heal your knee or something. Yeah. It's obviously a little bit less of an exciting situation. It's all exciting. But still, yeah, it's a challenge. I mean, I think it's a really cool outlook as well, because I think every athlete can relate to getting an injury, especially at an unfortunate time. I mean, I like broke my ankle right before my senior nationals. And I was like, one of the best in the country at the time. It's just like, fuck, why now? A whole lot of times to get hurt. Like, why right now when I have all this momentum, I'm set up so good. Yeah. Like, it's a layup, you know. But I do think like God or the universe, like, really, truly kind of puts those things into place to test us as people, a test art character, test art resilience. And I felt like you did a phenomenal job at pulling through at the best time. I mean, you still managed to come back what six months after the ACL. The first one was, yes, I think I did the pipe masters. And that was like, and that was actually maybe seven months after. And that was after the ACL reconstruction. Holy shit. Six, seven months after a full ACL reconstruction. Yeah, that was a, that was a hard one. But then the other one was a ACL reattachment. Okay. So it's a little less. And it's still a pretty, just a lush mind. It's fine. They're just, they're not, they're not replacing me. Yeah. And so that one was a lot quicker. But that was for the Olympics to try to get back for the Olympics. And so that, I remember that, I think that was like two and a half months or something before I was like starting to surf again. You had to be back in two and a half months. Yeah. Would be like back in the water and back on a board. And that was, that was pretty terrifying. But I had a great surgeon. And yeah, we did it. Shout out to Dr. Kramer. Yeah. That is. So I remember when I was actually living at home at the time. And I remember my dad telling me about that situation. And obviously in gymnastics, there's a lot of knee injuries. Yeah. I mean, a lot of injuries in general. But to hear that, like, he was under a great deal of pressure as well. Because I mean, you're a big name. It's a huge public surgery. He's like, I'm like, saying prayers for him. I'm like, hopefully it goes well. Hopefully you can come back in time because it's either going to be really good for him or really. Yeah. And that was a fun. The second one was just it was fun because it was like, okay, like I put every day. I was like, I have a goal to surf the Olympics, which is like, I think it was like two and a half months or three months or something. Oh my god. And I was like, I'm just going to see what I can do to get there. Like I want to be there for it. And you were already qualified and everything. So you just needed to be healthy. I just need to be healthy to compete. Damn. And so yeah, I did everything that I possibly could 24/7 all day every day. And then it's cool to see that it worked. And you can get your body going, you know? Yeah. And I wouldn't say that I really competed my best. But I definitely was, I'm pretty stoked I was able to show up in like surf. Yeah. I mean, the tough thing is too. I think what we forget is like, you're putting all of this time energy and effort into your into recovering your knee versus like the time that you could have been sharpening your mind. Exactly. Yeah. Like you were completely set at a disadvantage. I just put you, it's crazy because when you put your mind completely into something else. Yeah. And then you're jumping back into competing like one, you know, like within weeks of surfing. Yeah. It's it's pretty hard. I mean, you're literally like learning how to ride a bike again. Yeah. Like it's kind of fun. Yeah, it takes it takes like it takes two weeks of like little sessions of like moving, seeing how things feel. Yeah. It takes a minute to get going. Well, you can't even trust your body at that point because you've had, you know, yes, you can trust it because you're you're hoping that the surgery went well. But also you're still like developing that confidence in your body. Yeah. It's like the I remember doing an air in one of my first seats. And I was like, okay, I haven't really done like an air yet. But here I go. I'm going for it. And I was like, okay, that felt pretty good. I was like, that was okay. Imagine doing like one of your craziest skills and your tricks and just like praying your body just holds up under it. You're just like, I don't normally think about is my knee going to take it and thinking about how the hell am I going to land this, you know? And like I get that like I tore my Achilles three years ago. Yeah, it was tough. But I remember that process like getting back into gymnastics because I could have retired. I was like, you know, like maybe this is kind of the universe in my body telling me it's time to just like, you know, put them up. But I'm like, but if I can flip after tearing my Achilles, like how much confidence will I have to be able to work out and run if I want to get in the beach volleyball, whatever it is. So, and I knew I was really active. So I'm like, let me just test my body, see how I'm far I can push it. And I was kind of like you like when I got into my recovery, I put my head down. It's kind of fun to do that. Yeah, it's nice. I'm controlling my control balls fully into a routine. Yeah, it's like, yeah, it weirdly makes life a little simpler because I know what I'm doing. Literally, like I hired a personal trainer. I was like, work out every part of my body to set my Achilles and like, I want to be able to hit the ground running when it is good because I don't want to feel like I can't trust my body. Yeah, like that's an awful feeling as an athlete. Yeah. And I feel like when you do go through those injuries, like you, you have trust issues again. You kind of have to. It takes a while to like fully trust it again. So walk me through the Olympics. How was that experience emotionally, you know, mentally? Obviously it was so taxing. I'm sure like the crash is quite crazy. Yeah, the first Olympics was interesting because just because I spent so much time just getting there. And then it was the COVID Olympics, it was like really bizarre and weird. I don't know, everyone's like, this isn't what it's like. And what was the location for that one? In Japan. Yeah, okay. Am I done with you guys? Yeah. Okay. And then we had a great time there. It was super fun. The waves were pretty average, but it was a really cool experience. And yeah, I guess it was just like, I don't know, I wish I had treated it more like everyone was like, the Olympics were so different. And everyone's like, it's a whole different event, it's a whole different thing. And I wish I had treated it more like a normal. - You're like, is it though? - Yeah, it's still suffocating. You're still surfing the same way in the water. So yeah, that was the one thing that I kind of took from it. I was like, oh, that was like, okay, I wish I had approached that a little differently. - Yeah. - But then it was funny, 'cause then we went to the next Olympics and we were into heat for-- - Did you eat it? - Yeah. - And then that's not during COVID time. So it was like, I mean, we're not in Paris with everyone, but it was very different than the Japan deal. So it kind of was different. - Yeah, well, it was just way more structured. Like they're like, okay, your practice time is at this time. Okay, when you go for your heat, you have to check in at this time and then you have two minutes to get here and then you have five minutes to get there. - Well. - And so it's this very like scheduled thing. - Yeah. - It actually threw me off a little bit because I went into it with this like information my head from the previous one. I'm like, no, I just need to treat more like an event. - And chill. - And I kind of approach my heats. And for me, before I have a heat, I like to watch it and then I like to go off, I like to be myself kind of getting my routine, yeah. But that like totally throws it off and you're like, okay, wait, okay, now I'm sitting next to the competitor, I'm about to serve again. - Yeah. - For like 15 minutes before the heat. - No. - Just weirdly quiet on the boat. - No. - And so awkward. - Yeah, so I was like, I wasn't like prepared for all that side of it. So it threw me a little bit mentally, I was like, wait, okay. No, I just, I gotta get back into my zone, okay. I can find my zone on this little boat. - Yeah. Well, and you're like, you're kind of on call 'cause you're like, wait, there's like so much time structure that you're like, do you need me right now? Do you need me right now? It's always like that hurry up and wait. - Yeah. - And I like cannot stand. - Yeah, exactly. - Oh, I hate to hate that. - Yeah. - I need to unplug. I'm like, I really would go to the bathroom and literally visualize by myself. - I need to be like doing my own little process of it. But yeah, so that was like, and it's just interesting how it changes, and you're kind of like, oh wait, now I can't do the routine that I like so much. - Yeah, that kind of brings you back to your core center and gives you that structure that you need to feel good going into the heat. - But it was cool though, 'cause it was just a different way of doing it. And it really opened my eyes like, oh wow, okay. There's definitely not just one way of doing this. - Oh, for sure. I mean, you kind of see that. I think obviously with surfing, it's tough because it's a bit more of an independent sport that you don't have a team. Obviously, you're a part of a team USA. - Yeah, and like, you kind of have, yeah, you're not part of a team with other surfers, yeah. - So you're not seeing everyone's process the same way. Like with gymnastics, you're, even though it's an individual sport, you're also in college anyways, you're on a team. - Yeah. - And so like, I would see my teammates, you know, dancing, having a good time. And I'm like, am I broken? Like, why do I feel like I'm gonna throw up and I need to run to the bathroom and be visualized for five hours, you know? - No, and that was another thing for the Olympics for us that was different as you're kind of part of that team. You know, so you're staying with the team. You're practicing with the team. And then you're possibly surfing against the team. And it's just like this really bizarre weird thing. I feel like they're like, okay, we have dinner tonight. Like everyone sits down at dinner and eats dinner together. And it's really fun, is it a whole different thing? But I'm, yeah, like I'm definitely like, I like my own space, so I like to be like doing my own thing. - Yeah. - So that made it really tough. - I know, like forces you to do stuff that you're like, I'd rather be home in my hotel room. - Yeah. - Not talking to anybody. And like too, I think it's tough 'cause it kind of is a bit of like mental warfare because you're, you're looking at your competitors, what they're eating, what they're doing. And you're like, should I be doing that? Like, it's really, it's crazy, yeah. Especially when you're, I mean, you guys are literally competing as each other for that top medal, like obviously you wanna win. - Yeah. - Who was your like biggest competitor that you were like hanging out with? - Well, I was with, I was there with Griffin and Gidee and then Kalohei and Japan. - Got it. - And, yeah, so both amazing servers. I ended up serving against Kalohei and Japan and lost to him. - No way. - Yeah. - Kalohei is a beast, so he'll say, he's so good. And then Kalohei and I have grown up together and so we're really, we're really good friends and actually like when we were on tour together, we hung out quite a bit anyway. So that was like pretty fun. - So it wasn't too new. - It wasn't too new, you know, Griffin is also a good friend. Like, I love Griffin. - Yeah. - But also just like a fierce competitor and doing his thing his way and like just totally different than my process. - Wow. - And so I'm just like trying to like, okay, like, I want to be a part of it, but I don't want to be a part of it. Like, I want to be doing my own thing. - Yeah, because you're like kind of worried what people think. - Yeah, totally. - But then you're also like, wait, I need to do my thing my way. - And then serving is pretty fun too because like, I guess it's kind of cool. We get to create our own team, you know? - Really. - Well, kind of like through the tour, like I've created a team around me, you know. I have my coach. - Yeah, yeah. - My good friend Brandon, who kind of helps manage everything. And like, the housing, the cars and everything. And then have my wife. And sometimes I'll have my brother, a friend come on. So you can kind of create this little. - Posse. - Posse, yeah, like a fun atmosphere, you know? - Yeah. - That fits to like my lifestyle. And like, and it fits to like what we all like to do. And we're just good friends hanging out. - Yeah. - So when you go, yeah, when we went to the Olympics, it's so different. It's like a lot of people that you've never met before. - Yeah. - Trainers and cooks and all these things going into it that are just very different. - Well, and you have this well-oiled machine with your Posse because you're like, you're gonna do this. This is your role. This is your role. And you guys kind of all are in this flow state. And when your wife is in the stands, you're like, wait, where's my wife? I think her to calm me down or to just be there to kind of give me that familiarity. - It's such a different, yeah, such a different thing. But like I said, just not that bad. It's just different. - Yeah. - So it's kind of cool to experience that. - Which one was your favorite out of the two Olympics? - It's hard to say, they're so different. Japan was really fun. Tahiti was cool. It was cool to see, I guess, it just a little bit bigger. Like it had that bigger feel to it. Japan was a weird, like giant setup for pre-COVID situation. - Yeah. - And then there was a ghost town. - Why? - So it was really weird. But also just really fun. Like we had a really good time. And, you know, like, Krista and Caroline are there. And they're both good friends too. And then Katie was there for the last one. And just, it was just fun, like vibes all around, yeah. - So sick. How was the Olympic come down? I always talked to my Olympic friends. And I've heard so many different reactions and stories. - The first one I had left and I was kind of like, just processing it, I didn't feel too much of a loss or anything. Tahiti wanted to definitely felt the loss a little bit more. - 'Cause you had expectations set going in. I think I had expectations set going in. I was feeling really good and I was like fit. And then I lost pretty early on. And it was just like, when that happened, I was just like, that build up for that. And I feel it for people, you know, like, and when you have a career that's based on the Olympics. Like, so you work like years up to that one event. - That one moment. - Like we're pretty busy, you know, on the tour. Like, for me, the tour is very important in the world championship. So like, we're constantly moving. So we left the Olympics and we're like, straight into another event. - Yeah. - So kind of had that like, time to like go, I guess, just put my mind on something else. - Yeah. - But yeah, I can't imagine that, the feeling of like a loss after like the, or even if you win. - Yeah. - I mean, it's all like a countdown after, but yeah, after working so much to go and do it. - I can't even imagine, especially, I think with all the prep and everything that you did, 'cause you were on this like, crazy fast track with recovery, and you're like, go, go, go, and you have all this structure. - Yeah. - So then when the Olympics happened and then you kind of had that drop off, like, do you think it was tough just 'cause it was like, lack of structure, like you kind of like, I did all this thing to get to this peak and then I'll, what now? Or did you just have, you're like, - I'm sorry, I think the, well, the, the first one was like, yeah, just, I almost felt relieved in a way. Just to be like, I'm not, I didn't destroy my knee. I'm all good. - Yeah. - The second one though, like just being healthy and going into it and having like, I think being into Heaty too, like a lot of people expected me to do well in it. And so I felt like I really let people down, which is a hard one, you know? And so, yeah, I don't know. That's what made it feel like the hardest. It's just like, you feel like you let like, your family down or whatever it is. You know, and you're like, I know I could have done really well as a van. - Yeah. - And so, yeah, that kind of hurt the, the most. - That's a tough post wall. - Yeah. - Does that connection to your family and your core community and your support system? Like, is that what drives you to compete well? - It's funny not, not so much. - But then when you do bad. - I let them down. - Damn, I let them down. And I guess the Olympics though, like it's pretty new and surfing. - Yeah. - You know still? So that was our second Olympics and surfing. And everyone gets really excited about it. It's like, I mean, it's the Olympics. You know, it's like to be able to be a part of it in our sport is pretty big. And Hawaii has a lot of like history with the Olympics, you know, with Duke and Karissa and like with surfing and just the whole thing. And so it would have been, yeah, really special to like win that, but at the same time, it's just like, yeah. I think that's why it felt like I really love people. - When you were at the Olympics, Did you think that that was your final Olympics or do you think that there's still one left in the tank? Um, I think there's still one left in the tank for sure. Okay, yeah, they're still figuring out how the qualifying happens for an X1, but yeah. Um, yeah, there's, so there's still, I still have like an opportunity to be able to, I think hopefully compete, maybe compete next year for it on the tour, because that's looking like it might go there for the qualification. Okay, sick. But then there's also qualification outside of our tour. Um, got it. There's different opportunities to qualify. Yeah, and so to be honest, I haven't really been like, oh, yeah, I'm going to do it or I'm not going to do it. But I think there is an opportunity if I really want to. Hell yeah. Yeah, to at least try to qualify for it again. Sick. So you still have a little bit of fire, Andrea? Yeah, it's, I mean, it's there. I love competing. I love all of it, you know, and I, I took up this year off competing on the tour again. Um, and not really is a retirement, but just as like a, I couldn't wrap my mind around it quite yet, like coming back. Oh, really? Yeah. And I just, when I go, if I go back, when I go back, I really want to be like, oh, I know what I'm going back for. And I feel it. And I, this is what I want to do. Cool. Not really just to go like, oh, yeah, I just want to win. That's fun, because it's, it's, it's kind of fun, but it's, it's not really it, you know, it's not fulfilling at the end of the day. No, I mean, the winnings cool, but it lasts like very short time. And you always realize it was the whole process before that was really fun and enjoyable. Um, but yeah, now with my family and stuff, it's, it's harder to mix those two together, because competing and serving are, I mean, competing in general, it's very selfish. As you know, it's like, you're all into what you're doing. Your day is like fully consumed to my end is fully consumed. And so I just couldn't wrap my head around it yet. So I did, I just felt like I can't go back to competing until I'm like, yes, I know how I want to do it. You know, yeah. Do you think that you would approach it differently since you aren't able to be a selfish like you won't be as all in? That's, that was kind of my worry a little bit, you know, like I think I might slip back into that. But like, I just, I don't want to go back if I'm not going to go there to win. Like the only reason I'm going back is to like, it's hard to explain because I'm also like, if I'm going back just to be there for it, that doesn't make sense to me, either. Well, it's tough when you have a kid. Yeah. So because now there's a lot more writing on it, you're like, am I going to take time away from spending this quality time with my child to just half-assets? Yeah, exactly. Yeah. No, I get it. I'm following out. Yeah. But also just me being I'm like, whenever I've been on the tour and competing and stuff, it's always been for me just like, oh no, I'm here to try to win. And I guess that's the fun in that process. Like you're on that process to win. Yeah. Yeah. You're not on the process of like, oh, hopefully I'm going to eat tomorrow, I'm going to party tonight and enjoy this trip to South Africa. Yeah. You know, like I enjoy that process to get to try to win. Like there's a lot that goes into that. Wow. Yeah. That's actually really impressive that you've managed to have so much longevity in your career and so much success in your career while focusing on winning. Yeah. Because like you can't control so much of your sport, you can't control who you're competing against. No. You can't control how much they're training, how what they're doing. You can't control the fucking way. Yeah. But I think that's what I learned though. It's like it's that I start the year as like, okay, my goal is to win. Okay. I want to win. Yeah. That's that's why I'm here. And then I kind of like put that on the side. And I go, okay, now here's the path to that. And I'm going to do everything I can. I know that I can't control it. I know that I might not win at the end of the year. Yeah. I'm not counting on winning. But I might lose. I don't know what's going to happen. But this is the path that I'm setting. That's the driving force. That's that's the path that I'm setting to get there. Got it. And so yeah, I don't know, it's just I enjoy that process of like full commitment, I guess. I guess that's what it is, right? Yeah. It's like the full commitment of it. Like 100%. I enjoy being committed to it. I couldn't agree more. I'm not on the same way. Maybe it's not like just the winning. It's it's more of the full commitment. And so understanding that about yourself and understanding that you now have other responsibilities and finding that balance. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I think I was actually going to ask you like, how do you manage with you built an entire business for someone who's got their head down and wants to win and is so devoted to their sport? It's really impressive that you managed to develop so many things outside of your identity in just surfing. Yeah. And do it. And that's where I think like sometimes I go like, oh, maybe that's how it could work with family. You know, it's like there are down times. There are times when you're like, I got to get my mind off of it for a second. And I think it's healthy. And so that's where in my life, like, that you're like learning how to sail and or building our own brand and business, all these different things. It's kind of given me a little bit of an avenue to go like, oh, I'm going to take my mind off it for a second and put it into something else. And it kind of creates excitement back about like, I don't know, it's like having like a weekend off, you know. Yeah. Of that like hardcore just training and recovery and surfing. Yeah, it's kind of giving me that little side step break for a second and then back into them like, okay, here we go. Yeah. Is that why you decided to launch the brand? We decided to launch the brand for a lot of reasons that were just happening at the time. I think I think things just kind of lined up. And it just kind of felt like the right time, I guess, to like try to do something. And I've always loved being like on the creative side of things and learning. And it was definitely scary. Oh my god. Yeah. I'm going to take a chance on this in myself. I get it. I literally just launched your podcast. It's launching tomorrow. I haven't launched yet. And I'm like, how do people do this? Yeah, it's great. And it just make it forces you to be so introspective and be like, why am I questioning myself? What is my self worth? What am I doing it for? What's my purpose? Yeah, exactly. And I think just trusting your gut on it, you know, I'm just like, nope, I know this is what I want. I know I'm going to question it. I know there's going to be times that are that I'm thinking that this isn't great. Yeah. But I think this is the right path right now. And I guess knowing that you can always make a change too. True. You can always shift gears, pivot. Yeah. I mean, it's your brand. And I think that's the cool thing. Is that no one is going to do it the way that you do it? Yeah. And it's been really fun because it's like, I just feel like it's ultimate freedom and what I want to do. I mean, it's been able to like support me on whatever path I go on. Yeah. And I love the products out of it. And so it's, and now that I have my brothers on board with me, are they? Yeah. It's like, it's become this, I don't know, something I could have never dreamed of really. That's so fun. It's like a family business. Yeah. When you got into the business side, how did you apply everything that you've kind of learned through surfing like to this new venture? I think just like the, for me, I'm still learning, you know, we have an amazing team here that that helps run everything. And so I'm still just learning and I want to learn as much as I can about it. And I guess that's where I applied like what I've done with competing, like I learned how to compete. And I learned how to like go through the process of learning of like doing it and problem solving and figuring things out. Yeah. And so kind of taking all that to the business and just being curious and asking questions. And yeah, not it just, it doesn't matter if it's a dumb question or what, like I don't know, I'm like, wait, what? Yeah, just communicating with a team constantly. And I think all that is is true is like connecting with them and deepening the relationship of your brand. Yeah, totally. And the communication is a huge run that I've learned, you know, like it's, and I'm learning it's just through our whole team is making sure we're all like hopefully we're all on the same page and we're all going the same direction. And everyone is just talking about how they're feeling about it or why we're making decisions on certain things. So the communication has been a big one for me to learn. And learning how to be a leader. I mean, you haven't really had in your sport, you haven't really had to lead very much in a team aspect, right? Yeah, yeah. For the most part, like other than like kind of the little team I create on the road for myself, you know, like it's just a totally different, yeah, world. Yeah. Do you think that growing up being the oldest out of three boys with your single mom, do you think that kind of helps set you up to learn how to lead? Yeah, I would say so it probably helped a lot, you know, always looking out for my younger brothers and just because you're kind of the man of the house, you know, feels like that. Yeah. So I think I learned a lot of that just being, I don't know, I guess, when I was really young, not letting letting my brothers play. I'm so glad that they're a part of the brand. That was so cool. It's really fun. What a dream. Yeah, it's like I said, I couldn't have dreamed of it being any better. For me, anyways, when I was kind of entering into this new realm of like stunts and gymnastics and everything trying to figure out what I wanted to do, like I didn't like relying on something I couldn't really control, like stunt jobs. Yeah. It felt very inconsistent, very sketchy to like rely on something, you know, financially. So I kind of built My business to be able to have more stability. So for you do you feel like building your business has created this like I guess has taken the pressure off of serving because you guys rely on each Competition to get paid right besides obviously sponsorships. Yeah, I think everyone's a little bit different in servings If anyone like you can make money from the tour. Yeah, there's people who make money from social media There's people who make money from sponsorships and all those rely on you to be pretty consistently doing A lot of it's on competing. Yeah, and it always has been for us And so this kind of allows I don't know I feel like it allows me to have a little more freedom in like what I'm choosing to do Yeah, and have the kind of creativity behind like follow the Curiosity behind it and be like oh, maybe I want to go do this right now and like This whole brand is around like being outdoors in general. It's not just surfing Yeah, and so it forces you to like really tap into other aspects of your personality Yeah, and I feel like so like me being off tour like last year we spent a year we sailed from With Lauren my wife and our son we sail from New Zealand to Fiji to Spent six months in Fiji then to Vonawatt to then to Australia. No way. Yeah, and you learn how to sail Yeah, so I've been learning to say like it's just been a side hobby of mine Okay, and a few years ago we sailed from Hawaii to Fiji, which was took like 20 days Yeah, yeah, and then so It's just been that kind of over the years that like when I get breaks. I've been learning it more and more And I'm still learning it but a now with like it been able to really kind of commit to it a little more and It's like I've been a dream of mine to do that But it's cool because the brand is set up to support like it's it's set up for like it almost works Better yeah, because we're built around just like hey being outdoor and being in the water and mountains or whatever it is. Yeah And it's not so much around competition. So it's like it's yeah, it's kind of just really cool I don't know it feels like everything's really balanced like and we're so we're doing that again this year We're actually going from the Caribbean through the Panama Canal to Tahiti and then across Pacific to Fiji, New Zealand Yeah, so that's so epic. I feel like too what's so cool about your guys is Brand is like now you have that alignment, but you also have It like makes sense in your brain for the brand. So you're like yeah doing business. Yeah totally But also mixing a pleasure. Yeah, it like all like lines up really nicely. Yeah, which makes it really fun But I think that also just it it's such a big testament to your brand as a whole being so authentic to you Yeah, because like you've made it your own and you're acting every day To kind of replicate that brand. Yeah, and then so when people see your brand I think that's what makes it so successful honestly is like they see you and they see the brand and they're like that makes sense It's like a no brainer. Yeah, you know and and when while when I was competing it was a little hard because um like 24 was my last year. I was on tour and it's tough because I'm so focused on surfing and I'm that's like the only thing I'm focused on yeah So now that I wasn't focused on this out in my off time I was but I just had a lot less of my mind going to this, you know, and it was funny because it didn't really like Not really trying to be like a Nike like where it's like performance only. Yeah It was it's more this like We really just want to make stuff that like inspires people to go outside and Do whatever they want to do outside. Yeah, I love when you get something that you're like I got to go use this Yeah, what am I gonna do this weekend? You know, yeah, and so that was kind of like My thought behind it and so now that I'm able to go do this and and like lean into that whole side of it more It just feels really good. Well, especially now. I think with social media people are creating connection outdoors more than ever Yeah, it's they really are um and so Yeah, it's kind of nailed time. It's cool time. I share it on and do Yeah, I always say like the people like bark who made incredible paddle boards and all of these, you know different Things that just like you know are gonna make a positive impact. Yeah totally like and create really core memories Yeah, really nice quality time. So I love that about so many different like there's so many brands and products up there that do that But that's yeah kind of what inspired us What's been the hardest thing about running Florence? Um, I think the just like learning how to work with like a bigger team overall I think in the beginning like the communication side of things and like was Yeah, trying to figure out how that like it's like we have a pretty big team now. It's huge. Yeah, literally in the offices right now was really huge. I was like Okay, John John And so um and there's so many things happening. Yeah, just trying to stay kind of somewhat connected but not get to and the weeds on things too like I find myself sometimes I I'll pick on really small things that probably don't Make too much of a difference, you know, but yeah, it's like I'm missing the overall big picture of it um, so just learning how to like Yeah, I guess See where I put my energy in that. Yeah, I think sometimes to what we forget is when we have too much time on something It's almost debilitating. Yeah, because we get to perfectionist on it. Yeah, and it's like I've noticed that with like balancing social media and the podcast and my, you know, YouTube channel series It's like almost having more stuff on my plate has made it Better. Yeah, because I'm not micromanaging myself. Yeah, exactly And I'm not micromanaging my team because I'm just kind of like whatever happens happens. We're just gotta put it out anyways But yeah, that's I can't imagine running this big of a team It yeah, I mean like I said there we have a really good team and so everyone's like Super on it, but yeah, it's it's definitely a hard day like wrap my head around as well You're just you wake up one day. You're like how the hell did this get built? Yeah, feels like I just blinked And now it's this massive enterprise brand. It's crazy And obviously too throwing another wrench into the plans not even a wrench But like another thing to your plate becoming a husband. Yeah, and if dad Was that part of your plan? Did you plan this all out kind of Timeline wiser was just kind of just happening actually has been happening Everything's I feel like just been happening as it yeah has yeah The we had we had our son the last year. I was on the tour and That was like an overwhelming year because I had the Olympics. Oh my god. I had the Tor and we were having our son mid-year Oh, no, and so it was like this not enough planning actually Yeah, maybe more planning was the nice actually And so right before the year started I remember just kind of Okay, here we go like this is going to be good. Yeah It was just I don't know it just worked out amazing like the one of the best years of my life Just oh and the sense of like It was really tough on the second part in the second half of it once we had our son and like I I was traveling quite a bit Um like we literally had our son and then I left the two days later to teedy for the hell yeah But it was for the Olympics, but no for our tour event. Okay, okay. The Olympics was A little before that I can't remember if it was before no the Olympics was after okay Yeah, so we left to our tour event in Tahiti, but it was cool because I'm like It just made it like okay, I'm leaving. I'm going to compete and that's why I'm there It made it really like clear of like weirdly enough to be like I know I'm here. I'm putting all my effort to be here Yeah, if I'm taking time away from my family then I'm gonna compete It's gonna force you to walk you and just you're like I'm making the most of this trip exactly because I could be at home with my wife Yeah, and so that was really fun to go like okay Went to teedy and then I got a second and then I flew home for 24 hours and then left to El Salvador, which is pretty far. Oh my god. Yeah, so far. Yeah, and then I ended up winning El Salvador flew home for 24 hours and then flew back to Brazil Um, the jet like goes crazy. I'm sure. I don't know if he realized that El Salvador and Brazil are somewhat close to each other Yeah, why it's so far away. So yeah, it was it was just this crazy amount of travel yeah on the whole thing um But I don't know it was kind of fun. It was kind of like this like whoa like here I go Really close 24 hours like okay, that felt pretty good a little rest to see the family like I never would have done that in the past I would have been like gone, you know um But it's weird how 28 or 24 48 hours at home can really like reset yeah, like I never realized how that short amount of time could reset so much yeah um And so yeah, that was like It was just cool to kind of go through that that process of it I never really thought of it like that because I feel like a lot of surfers are Nomadic, you know, they're kind of a nomad. They're bouncing from couch to couch. That's kind of the culture of your guys's sport So I always find it so fascinating the transition Of becoming a father and no longer couch riding and you know being gone for six months at a time you do have roots now and yeah So you're either taking them with you or yeah, or you're uh flying back and forth and I mean he was a newborn at that point So it was me flying back and forth. Yeah, you're like you stay there. Yeah, I'll see you in 24 hours. Oh my god That's so insane, but I feel like maybe do you think that maybe traveling all that time as much as yes, it could be Taking a toll do you think it helps you mentally to just be like I have my purpose I need to go back to and then I'm just gonna go back and just quickly knock out this competition. Yeah, I think it did it just it made it very like Clear yeah, I guess like okay. I'm now. I'm gonna compete now. I'm home now. I'm going to work and compete Whereas before it was kind of this like free flying. Okay. Now we're going to El Salvador and we're here a little bit early and okay Now I'm gonna start getting ready and Gives you time almost always kind of what you're saying though about like when you're too consumed into one thing You have you're kind of like overthinking all the little parts of it. Yeah, but when you're doing other things You kind of just there's like okay, this is how it's happening. I guess we're doing it now Like this is that this is how it's gonna go you can help but have to jump into the flow state immediately Yeah, yeah, there's no time to overthink. Yeah, it's it was kind of a fun way to do it So do you prefer competing now versus when you were single and had you know all the time in the world I think competing now is pretty fun because I I don't know. It's cool to have the experience of it. You know, like I've I've had a lot of experience observing heat So yeah over the last 20 years of my life and so when I go into heat like I know the process that I want to get into I know the feeling that I want to have yeah, it makes it a lot more fun and a lot less stressful Yeah, you know because your body's already like we did this. We've proven ourselves that we can enjoy the ride a little bit Yeah, I did a small we we sponsored an event and Hawaii at pipeline just a couple months ago cool Um, and I haven't done many events like in the last year, but I did this event just for fun and I didn't know how I was going to go I didn't do anything get ready or anything and I was I mean, I surf every day, but nothing competing wise. Yeah And I just thought I was so fun and amazing like how like I just clicked in like as soon as my jersey went on just from doing it so many times That's such a trip. It was such a trip. I just like started happening and I was like whoa here Okay, like this is cool. Like I'm back into it now, you know, yeah And so it was really fun to surf that event and like I got seconded it, but it was like powers activated by the jersey Yeah, it was just like I was so cool to go through all the different heats and the waves were really challenging, but like just Fell into it, you know Without having to think too much about it, and that's probably such a cool moment to realize like I can do this with all of the stuff on my plate. Yeah, I can manage it, but also enjoy it too and still be present Yeah, and so that that was definitely a cool feeling at woke me up a little bit on this. I want to go again Yeah, maybe retirement's not as close as I thought. Yeah, yeah But I definitely go back and forth. Yeah, I'm sure I'm like I really enjoy my life right now You know, what is it about you know the the battling with the idea of retirement? What's really holding you back? I think I just feel young and I feel like I I just feel like I can win again, and I think that's like the hard thing You know, but then that deep down I know that it like I said before it's like winning is never really the answer I guess or the I know it's not like super fulfilling. Yeah I like the process of it and everything, but uh, so it's I'm like in this like I don't know it's hard to Let it go when you know that you could there's still potential in my mind I'm like, I know I could go back and really like give it a good shot at winning like So that that's always that that makes it really tough Yeah, you're only 33. Yeah, yeah, and you I still can't believe you were the youngest one on tour 13. No, no, okay, no, but you were the youngest of competed at a pipe master I was the youngest competed at a pipe master. Okay, I was really young But I wasn't on tour. I just I had a wild car or something and at that point When did you officially get on tour? I got on tour and I was 18 okay, yeah got it. Yeah, so it's been a Few years back to back back with the injuries and everything, but Yeah, and our tour is like a it's non-stop I mean, we have 11 to 12 events a year all on different sides of the world like oh my god They're and that it would be easy if they were like two day events, you know, but they're five Three to five day events. Yeah, 14 day waiting periods So what yeah, you oh cuz you have to wait for the waves to be good. Yeah. Oh my god So you have a waiting period and then you got to get there so each place you're like there for like almost like three weeks I had no idea. Yeah, so you're in this like you get there you're like, okay, it doesn't look like it's gonna run for the first five days What hey, we're sitting and waiting and that just gets Exhausting I remember actually my dad when he was in Tavaro recently. Yeah, and he was like Yeah, we're still waiting for the heat to start like probably we'll have a friend there week or so. No, it's crazy It's sometimes yeah, we've had events where the event runs doesn't run till the last three days and then they go boom boom boom Oh my god, my type a personality could never you really have to go with the flow Yeah, you're really just like okay. I'm just enjoying the place not thinking too much about this heat Well, I was gonna say that's tough you have to you kind of have to like Pro long the getting ready process. Yeah, otherwise you're gonna be too locked in for Yeah, and so you have to be in this like I Don't know. I guess it's like a relaxed focus. Yeah, you know, and so it's like ready to go when it needs when it's gonna happen. Yeah The forecasting is pretty good now. So you have a good idea of like I appreciate it's gonna run on this day. Yeah, but it's still like The travel and then like that. It's just a lot. Oh my god back to back to back. I can't even imagine I I travel with Red Bull cliff diving Yeah, and I cover I'm like TV show host for them. Oh cool. So like but I've only gone I Mean last year they did four events. Yeah, and it was all over the world and like I know they're starting at Indo this season Yeah, and they're doing six stops, and it's like that's only half of your guys's that's crazy And where's I think hours are only four days. Yeah, and we're not waiting for forecast Yeah, and that travel is already a bitch like that is such a gnarly travel trip. So yeah, so like this year They're scheduled. They have three events in Australia back to back. Okay, so at least they're trying to make it at least a little bit more It's so it's not too bad, but like if you're not from Australia You know that's a long time away from home. So you have the three events back to back then it goes Straight from Australia to New Zealand. Well, I'm straight from New Zealand to El Salvador. Then straight to Brazil. So it's six events From Australia New Zealand, El Salvador, Brazil all back to back I you're like am I supposed to stay out there for six months. Yeah, it's like months. It's months on the road And so it's crazy. Yeah, you're like how's Darwin feeling about travel? We just flew here and we're like oh my gosh one five hour flight You're like this is a nightmare. Yeah, I can't even imagine my neighbor has two little babies and like they just got back from the Olympics Yeah And Finland and like I just I don't know how you she was like 10 hour trip with two little ones is not for the week It's no it's so crazy and so our son right now he's almost two and so he's like really Active yeah, especially on the plane. Oh, yeah and running around kicking the seat in front and screaming and crying and then sleeping and you're just like Oh my gosh, this is it's really crazy like it's our last flight We we're like okay, we're gonna we got it. We're gonna push his nap He's gonna sleep for the first half. It's gonna be great. Yeah, the second half. We just have to entertain him for a little bit Push his nap. He sleeps for like 30 minutes. Oh no, and then we're like looking at the timer like We did not plan for this. We did not prepare and you're just like praying everyone around you is empathetic and just like understands that it's just We have the grind of having a two-year-old. We had one flight late last year coming back to Australia and Where it was this we had a short flight and then we had a 12 hour flight after oh god, so we'll find out Yeah, and it was the on the short flight He or son. He's like grinders in the flight got like playing movement sickness Motion like like maybe because his ears can't properly. Oh, yeah, yeah, they're up all over me Puking like and people are handing us like tissues and he's crying and and I'm trying to make him puke in the bag And I'm like this is my biggest nightmare ever and I didn't bring a change of clothes no and so I'm like in the Sydney airport Like oh my gosh like I smell so bad. This that was just like the worst like My wife goes and buys me like how I love Sydney sure So now but now we've learned like take off and landing He's got to be like chewing something or like drinking water or something. Okay unless he's sleeping got it Otherwise like the ears get blocked, but it's just like these little things and I'm like I always have a spare set of clothes Prepare for the worst hope for the best. Yeah, and I was just You have these little learning things, but it's still just like it's it is so much harder. Yeah That's gonna be so gnarly if you do end up going back on the tour It's traveling with like a three or four-year-old. Yeah, so I would want to bring them everywhere Of course, I don't want to sacrifice the time mister with them, you know, so and that's how you grew up and you turn out Okay. Yeah, so why not you know just homeschool on it's just a little more flights back to back Yeah, that's yeah, that's gonna be crazy. Yeah, hopefully you know I mean your wife seems like a champ. Yeah, my wife's a champ. She's definitely like okay. I get this what we're doing I'm like wives of professional athletes are built different because it is just one of the toughest jobs going with it on yeah always the emotional roller coaster just go with the flow why have one quick question before we get into a little segment but I just want to know what do you want to leave with your sport because I know you've been going back and forth through retirement but like what do you really hope to leave as your legacy in the sport serving that's a big question I don't really know I guess just like that you can do it your own way I love that yeah it can be your own style it doesn't have to be someone else's style it doesn't have to be a coach's style you can have your own approach to it you can be creative with it and you can still be successful at it like it doesn't have to be someone else's path yeah and I think that's what made it so fun for me was like I had a lot of good advice when I was younger but and even when I was getting really into competing but like helping me to understand that I can do it my way was like kind of like eye opening for me and I'm like okay cool yeah like that actually sounds really fun and I'll train this way and I'll I'll set it up how I want to set it up yeah it's empowering yeah I have control over my own yeah yeah and so I think that was like pretty cool is that you can you can do it your own way I love that I think especially now in this day and age where everyone's trying to copy and paste from the successful ones yeah yeah totally you know you see a legend you're like Kelly Slater you know like let me let me try to do it how he did it was he doing to like recover all the things it's like well dude what works for you totally what works for you yeah and you have to go through that process of like oh this worked this doesn't work oh I like hanging out with people and that gives me energy or yeah that doesn't give me energy and just figuring out how you want to do it yeah yeah I guess that's what I hope I can leave with it like if I can I think you're also going to inspire so many people to invest outside of their sport yeah because that's rare yeah and I think that's just like another way from I guess me to be like yeah just there's not one way to do it yeah would you ever put Darwin in surfing um I've all I sir I just I don't care if he's like a competitor or professional surf or anything like that I just hope he likes surfing so we can surf together oh yeah you can have your quality time back yeah yeah so it'd be fun I would love that it's so fun I always I feel like with surfing it's one of the biggest like generational type sports where you grow up surfing with your dad yeah it's a fact it's like it's a family thing like I mean I grew up in a surfing family my dad served my little yeah little brother serves my older brother serves so I mean you served with run for a little bit yeah totally yeah it's so interesting like I've always noticed that about circling I love that about your guys' sport yeah because it's just such a family affair yeah there's just such a side of surfing that's like so far from the competitions out of it yeah is very I guess wholesome it's so it's like an art as well yeah and so I I really love that side of it I love that okay well I have a fun little segment that I do at the end of every show where I ask my followers to ask us for advice because we have so much wisdom and so much experience and so many different ways but it's called dear athlete and the first question is what's one piece of advice you received that's completely altered your outlook on life one piece of advice I received I guess that what I was just talking about was that like it does like I I can kind of do this how I want to do it and it doesn't have to be yes someone else's way I I don't know for some reason that one sticks out to me and that one really helped me to be able to like make big decisions in my life and what I'm doing and you know everything from the way I competed the way I did my process the way I got ready the way I served to making decisions of like winning the world title and then not going back to the experience like and just saying no I'm gonna do something else now when I'm starting my own brand and so like I think like that was like some really helpful advice yeah you're like I'm I'm John John I'm gonna do it my way yeah this is what I will feel like doing right now the yeah I feel like going down this path and I love it and it's working for you yeah and I think it's gonna also open some avenues for other athletes again to just realize they can do it their way and there's really no set playbook no there's no set playbook yeah like even within competing like everyone competes totally different and the way they approach is totally different and and same with like serving as so much style to it yeah everyone's style is so different the way they serve but it doesn't have to be like someone who's been there already yeah like make it your out no like I can completely relate to that because that's what set up my career was doing something completely off the book yeah completely different than what anyone else has ever done yeah and I think nowadays was social media and just sports in general uniqueness is being celebrated yeah I think a lot more than we think for sure yeah because people are gonna get tired of watching the same shit over and over again you know like wake me up you know like throw something crazy I've ever seen before I think that's what people are looking for now yeah is what sets you apart not what keeps you in line yeah exactly and it's cool because we're all very different yeah and you just have to follow that and utilize that to your strength yeah why not top into like your uniqueness and what makes you different because that's what's gonna really again set you apart and and give you an edge yeah totally I couldn't agree more okay second one is what's something I can do to get the extra edge in my sport maybe on a day to day I think something to do to get the extra edge is I like the visualization stuff hmm I think that's really important because you can spend a lot of time doing it and when you get good at it it becomes a lot easier yeah um with practice as with anything but um whether you're visualizing how you want to feel for it or what your actual routine is I think it's incredible what the mind can do when you see something over and over and over again and how you kind of just like fall into that once you're doing it oh yeah I don't genuinely don't think we're using even a fifth of our brain you know like there's so much on top potential when it comes to mind work and breath work as well yeah I learned breath works so incredible breath work is in is the same I mean people will have full-blown convulsions from breath work like which is yeah such a trip to me but yeah like learning how to breathe in order to calm my nervous system I'm like what a freaking yeah it's with you all the time secret weapon yeah yeah and to not have that knowledge I think would really do me such a big disservice especially being on such a big stage and competing at such a high level like you need that extra edge yeah and it's cool because the breathing and the visualization is something you can do kind of anywhere at any time before bed sitting on the bus sitting on the plane like on your board while you're waiting for like it's it's pretty incredible yeah I love that and just controlling your controls it's so empowering to know you're in control even when everything around you is changing knowing what you can't and what you can yeah for surfing that's always been important like okay I know I can't control what he's doing I know I can't control what waves are going to come yeah but I can control how I feel about it and I can control how I'm going to approach it yeah feel of that what's one thing you swear by when it comes to recovery when it comes to recovery I guess sleep and diet probably two things that are like I feel like are the most important yeah two things that can just cause stress and inflammation and that would just slow everything down so yeah yeah I would put the biggest emphasis on those two things and then I yeah there's tons and tons of other things red light hyperbaric and all these other things I did hyperbaric for my Achilles as a game changer and they're it's amazing and I love it all but they're all addition if you're not getting good sleep and you're not eating right and being hydrated and all those things then those things won't work as well 100% and I for me I feel like something that tops everything but I think it's just like this overarching theme that will really tie everything together is attitude yeah like you gotta have a good attitude you gotta have a good I think you have to approach the injuries as again like a challenge and I think you having that mindset going into it has set you up so well yeah and if you're negative and this sucks I don't want to be here doing this why did this happen to me I can't believe this the victim mentality yeah it's it's just causes stress and it's so toxic yeah and you're not gonna give 100% to every single thing that you have to do in order to get back yeah so what you're you might as well just half-ass or night and dry yeah it's like what's the point yeah we get it you hate to be here but yeah I think just understanding like I get to it could be so much worse I mean so much worse so much worse like I've been to fricking rampage you see those wipeouts you're like I'll take an Achilles tear up that any day like holy shit but anyways I think that's all I have for you awesome thank you so much thanks for having me it was so good chatting with you I'm glad that we got to get get to know you a little bit better yeah and best of luck and I'm good to see you before we wrap today's episode I just wanted to take a moment to talk about something that's weighing heavily on my heart right now the North Shore of a Wahoo is experiencing devastating floods that have deeply impacted families local businesses and an entire community that means so much to so many especially today's guest John Don Florence if you've ever been to the North Shore you know it's more than just a vacation spot or a surf destination. It's a home, a sacred land, and a culture rooted in community that shows up for one another. And in this moment, the people of Hawaii need us more than ever. John-John, along with Florence Marine X, is actively supporting relief efforts. Please do your part and show your support by donating directly through Florence Marine X's Relief Initiatives. I've linked everything in the description below. These communities have lost so much. The least we can do is come together to help provide resources and support the rebuilding of Hawaii. Thank you for tuning in to today's episode of Athletes After Hours, and for always being a community that spreads kindness and genuinely cares for others. I will see you next Wednesday.