Surfing and Sailing Around the World with John John Florence
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After winning his third World Surf League title in 2024, John John Florence made a radical pivot: stepping away from competition to sail around the world with his family on a 48-foot catamaran named Vela. What began as a gut-driven dream evolved into a life-altering journey across the Pacific, from New Zealand to Fiji, Vanuatu, and Australia—complete with stormy crossings, baby-proofed decks, and surreal encounters with glowing dolphins in the dark. Florence reveals that his mental resilience, built through years of breathwork, visualization, and meditation, became his true superpower—not just in surfing, but in navigating the unknown. He shares how injury, burnout, and the weight of expectation led him to reevaluate success, ultimately finding freedom in simplicity, presence, and the joy of being with his son Darwin. His advice? Trust your gut, take one step, and let the path reveal itself. The episode is a masterclass in intentional living. Florence’s journey shows that true mastery isn’t just in peak performance—it’s in knowing when to step off the stage. His recovery from multiple ACL surgeries wasn’t just physical; it was mental, emotional, and spiritual. He emphasizes that healing isn’t linear, but consistent micro-actions—red light therapy, daily mobility, hyperbaric chambers, and breathwork—add up to transformation.
After three world titles and years of injuries, John John Florence stepped away from competition to sail around the world with his family—proving that success isn’t just about winning, but about alignment with your values.
His mental training—visualization, breathwork, and meditation—was the key to resilience, helping him manage pressure, emotion, and the fear of failure during his career.
Recovery from multiple ACL surgeries wasn’t just physical; it required daily micro-actions like red light therapy, hyperbaric chambers, and mobility work—small habits that compounded into long-term healing.
Sailing with a one-year-old required careful planning: a netted, baby-proofed catamaran with secure zones, lifelines, and constant vigilance, but also created a surprisingly safe and joyful environment.
The most magical moments weren’t on the waves—they were in the middle of the night, watching glowing dolphins in bioluminescent water, or watching his son play with village kids on remote beaches.
…and 3 more takeaways available in PodZeus
The Power of Mental Visualization
“It was more visualizing how I was feeling walking down to the water, how I felt right before the horn went off.”
The Weight of Winning and the Aftermath
After winning his first world title in 2015, John John experienced a post-victory depression. The pressure to repeat success led to burnout, injuries, and a loss of passion—highlighting the emotional cost of elite performance.
The Breaking Point: Injuries and Identity Crisis
“I don’t know if I really want to be here again all of a sudden. And then boom, that was when my knee really went, destroyed my ACL.”
Recovery as a Daily Practice
“I did a lot of little things that like in the moment might not feel like a huge change, but over the long term, I think did a big change.”
The Decision to Sail: Trusting the Gut
“I think it's trusting your gut and then taking one step in that direction.”
“The water is just glowing, like phosphorescence just glowing and like huge dolphins that you can see. Like, I don't know, they're really big ones.”
“I think it's trusting your gut and then taking one step in that direction.”
“I don’t know if I really want to be here again all of a sudden. And then boom, that was when my knee really went, destroyed my ACL.”
Host
Guest
John John Florence
person
Darwin Florence
person
World Surf League
organization
Vela
product
Lauren Florence
person
Ivan Florence
person
REI Co-op MasterCard
product
Ocean Bottle
product
Florence
brand
Yeti
brand
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