Fans around the world fist-pumped, hooted and high-fived when John John recently won his world title in Portugal. There were probably even a few newly named ‘John Johns’ in honour of the universally popular champ. Right now, however, Hawaii’s favourite son is celebrating with a few hundred of his closest North Shore brethren after a parade down the famed Kam’ highway.
John John did it in classic style, riding in the back of a truck with his ‘Mom’, Alex, at the wheel and a bright pink Lei draped around his neck. Local supporters lined the road, thrusting signs skyward and running in for high fives from their newly anointed king. The loudest cheers came when John John rolled past a group of kids outside his old school, Sunset Elementary, which is right across the road from Pipeline. The school had a big sign out the front, which claimed John John as their first world champ.
When a Hawaiian wins a world title it’s a big deal. Since the sport became professional in 1976, Derek Ho, Sunny Garcia and Andy Irons (3 titles) are the only other male surfers to claim a world crown under the Hawaiian flag.
Prodigies don’t always go on to become champions but in John John’s case the little, blonde wildling who captured the surfing world’s imagination and conquered Pipe by the time he was ten, has lived up to expectations. With a title to his name he is now set to take pro surfing into another realm, but for now it’s time for Hawaii and John John to celebrate…
