John John Florence will defer his return to the Championship Tour another year. Photo: WSL
John John Florence and the World Surf League announced Tuesday that the three-time world champion is deferring his return to the Championship Tour in 2026. The league had previously announced back in November that Florence, 33, would be returning to the CT after taking a sabbatical for the 2025 season. His planned return was part of a wave of return announcements that included Carissa Moore, Steph Gilmore, and Gabriel Medina all making comebacks. But Florence says he’ll continue to focus on family and travel this year instead.
“Exploring with my family we learned new ways of living, saw new places, found waves for all three of us, and woke up most days just excited to see more, and do it all together,” said Florence. “It really confirmed for us that this is our dream right now. We’ve decided to continue in 2026 with the goal of hopefully making a full lap of the world. I want to become a better surfer; I want to become the best father I can be and combine it all with nonstop adventure and curiosity.”
Florence the said, “This means I will not be competing full time on the tour this year.”
View this post on Instagram
He also added one assurance to his announcement. “This isn’t retirement, it’s just the path I’m on for now.”
The WSL says Ramzi Boukhiam will receive the CT’s season wildcard in Florence’s place. The Moroccan CT vet has run into injury roadblock after injury roadblock since qualifying for the dream tour in 2023. An ankle injury sidelined Boukhiam for the start of that 2023 season, but he was awarded the WSL’s replacement designation for 2024 and then replaced Filipe Toledo full-time when the Brazilian withdrew from his own campaign. Boukhiam’s results in that spot included a third-place finish at Teahupo’o and world number 12 finish in the season rankings. In 2025, Boukhiam was slowed by injury again, withdrawing from competition at Bells and then sitting out the last two contests before the mid-year cut.
“I’m beyond excited to be back on the CT and grateful to the WSL for this opportunity,” said Boukhiam. “Last year’s injury was the toughest of my career, with a recovery full of ups and downs. But God is great, I never stopped believing, and eventually everything fell into place. I’m ready to give it my all this year and enjoy every moment on tour surfing some unreal locations. Morocco, we’re back on tour, let’s go!”
