Justice!
John John Florence is the most popular male surfer in the world and this should come as no surprise even though he has been injured all year even though we haven’t seen him surf but for once.
But for once is all we needed and he soared to the very stratosphere, to the place once occupied by Kelly Slater.
Kelly Slater, speaking of, he is the third most popular male surfer in the world, drifting back. Filipe is the fourth most popular male surfer in the world, obviously, nipping at Kelly’s heels. Gabe is fifth with Julian and Mick after that with Dane Reynolds still there too.
But wait.
Who is the second most popular surfer in the world?
Like you didn’t already know.
Jack Freestone.
Australia’s Jack Freestone.
Jack Freestone once commented on my Instagram account (RIP) so he’s my second favorite male surfer in the world but I won’t lie. It surprises me that he’s yours.
Did he comment on your Instagram account too?
You can be honest. I won’t be jealous.
Also, his wife, the wonderful Alana Blanchard is the number one most popular female surfer in the world. Even more popular than newly minted seven-times world champion Stephanie Gilmore.
Alana Blanchard never commented on my Instagram but if she had I can’t imagine it being anything other than kind.
Other winners:
MOVIE OF THE YEAR: “Never Town”
BEST SHORT: “Octopus Video No. 4: Chippa Wilson”
BEST SERIES: “The Search”
BEST PERFORMANCE: John John Florence in “Space”
BEST DOCUMENTARY: “Andy Irons: Kissed by God”
BEST MANEUVER: Noa Deane in “Head Noise”
BEST BARREL: Nathan Florence, Backdoor
HEAVY WATER: Lucas “Chumbo” Chianca
A.I. BREAKTHROUGH PERFORMER: Caroline Marks
A.I. BREAKTHROUGH PERFORMER: Seth Moniz
AGENT OF CHANGE: 4ocean
MEN’S SURFER POLL:
10. Andy Irons
9. Griffin Colapinto
8. Dane Reynolds
7. Mick Fanning
6. Julian Wilson
5. Gabriel Medina
4. Filipe Toledo
3. Kelly Slater
2. Jack Freestone
1. John John Florence
WOMEN’S SURFER POLL:
10. Courtney Conlogue
9. Caroline Marks
8. Sage Erickson
7. Tyler Wright
6. Lakey Peterson
5. Carissa Moore
4. Coco Ho
3. Stephanie Gilmore
2. Bethany Hamilton
1. Alana Blanchard
Commented on Disqus? Log out, tap the Disqus button, and your old name and comments come back. The box is ours.
Your comments are still here. Every one of them.
Twelve years of BeachGrit comments came across from Disqus. Connect and we will show you how many are yours. We get your username, nothing else.
Connect Disqus to reveal.
Sorry to all concerned
So Happy Chippa and Noa Deane won! Finally acknowledging people who don’t focus their whole careers on “Qualifying” Pour Example Dion Aigus is one of the best surfers in the world do you think these fools will give him some recognition for that. Smiling Bag was one of the best surf movies ever.
On another note Surfer Poll was terribly filmed I understand it’s a live stream but they can do better than that. John John and a lot of the surfers were dressed to the nines and they had my dawg Chris Cote and butthead Dave Wassel up there dressed like they were on a visit to KFC. Please remember decorum people and would it hurt to provide a Podium!!!
I feel better now getting that off my chest.
Alana ahead of Steph is so very, very high school. Guh.
Couldn’t agree more. It should just be a bikini contest then. Strange times in surfing indeed.
My Dad had a Maori mate who had a successful pool building business in Southern Sydney . The story goes that at the local Rotary Club all the members are introducing themselves , Hi I’m John Smith Church of England next up Hi I am Joey Conway Roman Catholic ………..finally my dad’s mate stands up and says Hi My People are from NZ and I have no idea what religion they were but I am pretty sure they ate a few Christians and blows them all away . Go hard Kehu .
Andy had a great year!
how is albee not in the top 10? pulleeaassee!!
Big T , maintain the rage . I only come here for a giggle between wiping bums and keeping the rug rats apart ( f’in Fight Club Weekend my 2year old daughter thinks she is Conor McGregor ) . Was just playing with Santos , the Spanish plural of saints , as in todos santos ( all saints ) . Funnily enough I only know about this tour because I hung out with Chris Zaffas’ dad , Billy while I was growing up . One very funny trip together to Green Island involving the police and another gold topped Easter at Scott’s Head are still bouncing around what Neurons I have left .
Ps a nice cultural mix in the quarter finals of the WSL World Junior Men’s event in Taiwan .
Zero credibility award. Browsing the video now. The “Best Barrel’ section has a sick soundtrack. The music is sick all round. Its live!!! Chippa Wilson.
Both kinds , Saints and Sinners in the former Spanish ( then Mexican ) Colony of California , Oops the Philippines ? Not to mention that a man named Skip from La Jolla won at Cloud 9 this year .
I posted this yesterday not knowing this article was coming . A bit like having a wank before your partner turns up unexpectedly
I think I’ve worked out how to win the Surfers Poll :
a) Be dead .
b) Be Old or injured so basically not surfing .
c) Be looking after a baby so not surfing too much .
d) Have ones arm permanently detached by a large angry fish .
While trying to avoid a) and d) I have definitely been working Adriano style on b) and c) . Now if I can just get myself a US Passport I reckon I am in with a chance . Kanoa can you lend me yours up until Tokyo 2020 .
But, do you have huge lactating cans?
No sadly I am on the itty bitty titty committee……
shouldn’t “Duke” be on there? Andy is so why not.
“hey KELLLLY, thanks for calling MEEEEE, congrats on 3rd place surfer poll” Sal
So good. Please explain re. Cloud 9 locals.
Are people aware Andy Irons is dead?
At least Dog the Bounty Hunter will know where to find him? \_🤪_/
HA! This is amazing. Way funnier than that stupid comedy column they put in the magazine.
And where the fuck is Ben Gravy ?
Oh, the injustice – oh cruel world !
Side Note: Good to see ya got rid of the bum fluff, John John !
Shiny shiny bad days behind me ?
James I hate myself for knowing the reference!
Me too
My vote will always go to Laird. He has his own creamer for goodness sake….
But for once, conce!
I could be wrong but
Would it not be very hard
To surf if you’re dead
I’m surprised Miki Dora wasn’t on the list with all the hipsters round here
Please Eddie Don’t Go and give those advertising geniuses who made those Jeep Ads more material .
I surf the Watery Grave , the Underworld , the Pet Cemeterys
I surf Dante’s 9 Circles of Hell
Davey Jones’ locker
Must reek of Meth and Acid
And very cheap wine