Ankle Injuries can really blow it. They are thorns, or machetes, in our side, keeping us from cruising, riding, or shredding. You never know when they are going to happen, and usually do when you least expect it. You get all excited for a certain hit or trick, and you have all the confidence in the world. Then, right when you feel like you are about to stomp it out, BOOM! Potential season ender. Our poor boy, John John, went down that route recently at the Gold Coast, folding his ankle over, and putting him on the sidelines for the latest Rip Curl Pro, in Bells Beach.
The pressure came on from the judges, who were getting hyped on all the airs that the surfers where laying out on the gorgeous Gold Coast. John John, riding with the utmost of style, decided that he was going to send it to the gulls as well. With complete focus, and his “special meter” blinking full, John John went toe side and popped off the lip with textbook style. His 360, boosting about 4 or 5 feet out, looked steezy as hell, grabbing Indy and all. The world, and a nice score, was his, until that landing came. What John John didn’t know, was that the pop off the lip sent him all the way into the flats. When he touched down, his back leg buckled down, and his ankle got bent, ending any further surfing on the Gold Coast.
With tendons pulled, and blood in places where it shouldn’t be, John John still hoped to be back in time for Bells Beach, but sadly couldn’t go through with it. We all want to see him kill it in the Billibong Pro coming up, and I’m sure he’s itching for it as well. In all seriousness, we hope that John John can heal up in time for Rio in May, and take a top spot, where he belongs. Keep some ice on it, dude.