Based solely on pure surfing, raw aggression and stylish technique, John John Florence's second wave ridden in Round One, Heat 5 of the Hurley Pro at Trestles was one of the standouts of the day. Although his 9.07 was bested by Jordy Smith in the very next heat, it doesn't diminish a wave that included risk, power, technique and finesse. Florence's surfing has the rare ability to summon that guttural, animal instinct that makes the hair on the back of your neck stand up. It's the same rare combination that creates the incremental separation between elite-level athletes, the difference between the best in the world and those hovering at the next tier below.
