John John Florence, the three-time world surfing champion from Hawai‘i, announced Tuesday that he will once again delay his full-time return to the World Surf League Championship Tour, confirming he will not compete full time in 2026. The move extends the sabbatical he began after the 2024 season and leaves the CT without one of its most decorated stars for at least another year.
Florence Says the Call Is About Family First
Florence said time away with his wife and young son has made it clear that family life and travel are the priority right now, and he thanked the WSL for the season wildcard he had been offered. He was careful to stress that this does not mark the end of his competitive career, writing that he will not be competing full time in 2026 and adding, "This isn't retirement." According to Maui Now, he described the year away as a chance to learn, hunt for new waves and focus on being a father.
Second Straight Year Off for Sailing and Family Time
Florence first stepped away at the start of 2025 after winning the world title and spent much of that season exploring the South Pacific by sailboat with his family. Hawaii News Now documented the sabbatical and reported that he had initially accepted a WSL season wildcard before choosing to extend his break into 2026.
Wildcard Handed to Ramzi Boukhiam
With Florence withdrawing, the WSL has reassigned its season wildcard to Moroccan veteran Ramzi Boukhiam. Boukhiam missed the last three CT events before the mid-season cut in 2025 after suffering a serious injury at Bells Beach, and he described the opportunity to rejoin the CT as "beyond excited," according to The Inertia.
WSL Sets the Stage for Its 50th Year
The 2026 Championship Tour, which the WSL is promoting as the 50th year of the pro tour, is slated to run a 12-stop calendar from April through December. It is scheduled to start at Bells Beach on April 1 and wrap up with a revitalized Pipe Masters in Hawai‘i under a revised format and an expanded women's field. A full breakdown of the schedule and format tweaks is outlined by Surfing Victoria, which summarized the WSL release.
Florence has framed his decision as a chance to lean into parenthood, travel and creative projects while keeping the door open to select events and film work instead of a grind-it-out full-season return. Industry coverage has already floated the idea that he could still pop up at marquee Hawaiian swell events or in occasional wildcards and media projects, a possibility noted in reporting by Stab Mag.
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