- WSL / Matt Dunbar

By rail or barrel, John John Florence is back in Western Australia and looking as comfortable as ever. Recent footage from his warm-up sessions for the Boost Mobile Margaret River Pro presented by Corona reveals that whether the event goes down at Main Break or The Box, the two-time World Champ has to be considered a heavy favorite.

His 2019 victory basically refined how Margs is surfed. With his huge, signature lay-back hacks and natural affinity for weaving through impossible barrels, nobody really came close to him over the course of the event -- a point supported by his 18-point Semifinal performance.

John John Florence In West Oz On April 28, 2021
0:40
John John Florence enjoys the swell hitting Western Australia on April 28, 2021.

"This is one of my favorite places to come in the world," said Florence after winning at Margs in 2017. "There is an abundance of different and amazing waves. The crowd we get for the event is awesome and it's just such a special event.

Over the course of his career in West Oz, Florence has two wins and a runner-up result. He also has a pair of 13th-place finishes. His highest single wave score is a near-perfect 9.90.

After a couple shocker results in New South Wales courtesy of rookie Morgan Cibilic, Florence, who now sits third on the WSL Leaderboard will be looking to re-establish his Title-contending form.

When the event gets underway at Margaret River he'll be facing Michel Bourez and Mikey Wright in the Seeding Round. Carrying an 83% winning percentage at Margs versus 56% for Bourez and 40% for Wright), he's gotta be a heavy favorite not just to win the heat, but possibly take out the whole event.

World Surf League
Download it for free on the App store. Download it for free on Google Play.