John John Florence pulls off trick hailed as the greatest in surfing history
13
Mar
A 20-year-old Hawaiian surfing prodigy pulled off an incredible trick at the Oakley Pro in Bali, earning a perfect 10 for his efforts.
Experts immediately praised it as possibly the best in the sport's history, with his time in the air making it so special.
John John Florence, using the strong waves at Keramas, Indonesia, launched eight feet into the air, rotated 360 degrees, and landed safely on the rolling wave.
Surfing's scoring system meant that Florence could not be beaten in his heat, and advanced directly into the next round of the competition.
Florence's seemingly impossible 'Alley Oop' reaching eight feet can be watched above.
"I was in the air and saw the bottom and everything happened so fast that I was just reacting. I claimed it pretty hard, but I was so stoked," said Florence.
The move was all the more impressive, because although Florence has been heralded as one of the most exciting new arrivals in surfing for a generation, he has been away for a long time with injury.
An ankle problem - sustained by trying another outlandish move - forced him out of the first three events of the season.
"The ankle is strapped but the brace gives me a lot of confidence and it feels good out there," he said. "Just psyched to be at Keramas, this wave is amazing and the boys are ripping so hard."