John John Florence Wins The Eddie

Is there anything that John John Florence can't do? Yesterday, after much anticipation, the Eddie was called on. A lot of living legends entered the contest; Clyde Aikau, Kelly Slater, Shane Dorian, the list goes on an on. However, it was young John John Florence that bested them all in surf where the word "heavy" doesn't really do it justice.

The Quiksilver in Memory of Eddie Aikau is an event that doesn't run every year. The contest requires massive surf at Waimea Bay, and certain conditions must be met in order to see the event get the green light. This contest is a tribute to Aikau, one of the great watermen of Oahu's North Shore. Eddie was a surfer, lifeguard, peacekeeper and hero to many. He famously perished while trying to save the lives of others, inspiring an ESPN 30 For 30 documentary.

John John certainly did Eddie proud yesterday, and one has to wonder if 2016 is Florence's year. Sure, he's not going to be surfing any conditions that even remotely resemble those of yesterday throughout the WSL Championship Tour season, but it's a fact that he's one of the most gifted surfers we've ever seen, and yesterday added another feather to his already crowded cap of accomplishments.