According to the grapevine, John John Florence has bust his ACL and LCL free surfing after his early departure from the Corona Bali Protected Pro at the weekend.

The injury is apparently sufficiently severe that John will be out for the foreseeable, and possibly the remainder of the year.

The news will award Mikey Wright a round three walk through at the imminent Margies replacement comp, due to kick of at Uluwatu on the 8th of this month. While John John wasn’t looking much like a title contender yet this year, his potential departure certainly leaves the door open for current tour leaders to hold on to their positions through tour stops where JJF has traditionally looked solid, especially Teahupoo, The Euro Leg and Pipe.

Italo and Filipe will probably be stoked not to have the defending champ chomping at their heals, while fellow countryman Caio Ibelli will probably be gutted, as he may now have to compete with both Slater and John for the two injury wild card spots next year.

We hope current reports are overstating the severity and John John will be back in a jersey or at least re-habbing at Waco and landing crazy new airs, before we know it.

Catch all the free surf action from Bali, including a groundbreaking aerial attempt by Mr Florence himself here. 

Cover photo Pete Chamberlain