Cover photo: WSL/Hughes 

“Overall, I had a hard time with the motivation to compete this year,” John John Florence told Globo in an interview published yesterday in conjunction with the launch of his brand, Florence Marine X in Brazil.

“It’s something I’ve been doing for a long time… Saquarema was a turning point for me. I found a mental balance. I remembered why I like to compete. I felt a lot more relaxed and thought: ‘OK, this is how I want to surf my heats,’” JJF told journalist Renato Alexandrinho.

“That made me much more motivated for the next events,” he concluded on the subject.

Contrary to what most WSL surfers think, Florence is happy with the mid-year cut, she just thinks it could be done later and she also likes the WSL finals.

He says sport needs to be exciting and these changes make it even more so.