In one of the worst kept secrets in surfing, John John Florence from Hawai’i has signed a five year deal with Hurley – no doubt making him one of the highest paid surfers on the planet [inside souces in the surf industry telling us the deal’s worth well-over a million dollars a year].
John left major sponsor O’Neill – a heritage surf company he’s been closely associated with since the age of six – to join the crowded ranks at Hurley (thanks to Nike’s backflip on surfing all Nike riders are now Hurley riders MORE HERE). The move proving rumours that have been swirling for over six months that the mega talent was to jump ship and sign with the Nike backed action sports giant Hurley.
In the official statement released by Hurley this week VP of Sports Marketing Pat O’Connell was quoted as saying. “Dream what might be possible in surfing and I’m sure he’s going to exceed it in the next five years. We just want to support him in every way as he continues to inspire us in all conditions.”
If you’ve been paying attention to John’s meteoric rise in all things surfing over the last ten years you can understand the excitement someone in PAt’s position must be feeling.
CEO and company founder Bob Hurley took a strangely different, mystical view on his namesakes signing, “I’ve always liked to surround myself around magic,” said Hurley CEO and Founder Bob Hurley. “John John has that special talent that only comes around every few decades or so. It’s a magic that will transcend well beyond our world and will make us all strive to be better. Needless to say, I’m humbled, honoured and so looking forward to supporting John John as he revolutionises surfing over and over again.” Well, Bob did live through the seventies as a teenager so, right on! Man.
In the same fairly low key media release (the video takes care of the superlatives), the man himself is quoted as saying. “I am very grateful and happy to be riding for Hurley, especially at this time of my life,” says Florence. “To be able to start 2013 with a new team and good people will ultimately help to accomplish my goals I have set for the future. I am excited to be a part of such an innovative company and can’t wait to see what happens in the years to come”.
And as always we can’t wait to see the freshly minted John John bring the noise to the ASP World Tour and surfing in general.
Departure Delayed from John John Florence on Vimeo.
