Three-time World Surf League (WSL) Champion John John Florence announced that he will step away from competition for the 2025 Championship Tour season to focus on new projects beyond the contest scene. Florence, 32, and his wife, Lauryn, welcomed their son, Darwin, last year, a milestone that has influenced his decision to take a break from full-time competition. "I'll be focusing on surfing in a different way this year," Florence said in a WSL press release. "I'm looking to explore, find new waves, and push my surfing as far as possible. I'll be filming new projects and sharing my adventures along the way—and I intend to compete for another world title in 2026." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Rob DeMello KHON (@robdemello) Florence delivered a dominant 2024 season, marking his 12th year on the CT. He claimed victory at the Surf City El Salvador Pro and finished runner-up in three additional events. His efforts culminated in his first-ever Lexus WSL Finals appearance, where he clinched the 2024 world title—his third overall and first since 2017. The Hawaii native previously won back-to-back world titles in 2016 and 2017, cementing his place among the sport's greats. While injuries sidelined him for portions of the years that followed, Florence achieved a career-defining goal in 2020 by winning the prestigious Pipeline Masters, a CT event held in his backyard on Oahu's North Shore. With Florence's decision to take a competitive pause, the WSL has granted him the 2026 season wildcard, ensuring his return to the CT when he's ready to chase another title. Despite stepping away from the jersey in 2025, Florence remains committed to progressing his surfing and exploring new frontiers. Fans can expect to see him take on remote waves, document his travels, and push the limits of high-performance surfing. The 2025 WSL Championship Tour will kick off with the Lexus Pipe Pro on the North Shore of Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi, during a competition window of January 27 to February 8, 2025.