The Vans Pipe Masters According To Mahina Florence
All photography by Jesse Jennings / @jesseaphoto
Long a devoted supporter on the sidelines, Mahina Florence took center stage at the prestigious Pipe Masters last winter—and showed the world how to interview a surfer.
The reimagined Vans Pipe Masters made its debut in December 2022 featuring sixty handpicked heavy water specialists: a balanced crop of local legends, big names, and newcomers plucked from obscurity. Pipeline showed her teeth and the surfers rose to the occasion, but in between heats, it was Mahina Florence that stole the show.
The daughter of North Shore enforcer Kai Garcia and wife to one of the most recognizable surf personalities in the world, Nathan Florence, Mahina is no stranger to surfing. She’s been the face of surf-inspired campaigns for Skims, Louis Vuitton, and all the beach brands, and she appears often in her husband’s videos viewed by millions. But still photographs being the supermodel’s specialty, we have rarely had the privilege of hearing Mahina’s own voice. Her unique perspective came across the broadcast waves as she effortlessly connected with each surfer, delivering each question with a depth of compassion and understanding.
The contest wove stories of bloodlines and bloody faces, dreams shattered and careers defined, kings and queens crowned. And at its molten center, Mahina drew those stories out in the most vulnerable moments where triumph and near-tragedy converged.
“When I got the call to be one of the commentators, I was definitely apprehensive,” Mahina reflected in a heartfelt video on Instagram. “First off, I had never done a live broadcast, and second, I kind of feel like the surfing industry is a little bit pre-judgmental. Totally okay, but I was scared. So just like how I approach anything in life, I approached this job with one hundred and ten percent.”
How did you prepare for this role, both on a personal level and professionally?
I took this opportunity because I was ready to be uncomfortable. When you push yourself out of your comfort zone, that’s when you’re able to break ground.
I had to do deep research, and I studied for hours. I asked my husband, as well as people around the contest and in the industry, questions about specific athletes. I wanted to bring more to these interviews than your typical cookie-cutter questions. My prep work paid off, and the support and feedback I got from people worldwide felt empowering.
Pua DeSoto comforts Sierra Kerr after an accidental interference wiped out the scoring potential of Sierra’s epic backdoor ride. Overheard on the beach: “Thank God it’s Mahina interviewing her.”
Who did you turn to for support and advice in the process?
Selema Masekela gave me the best tip. He said if you mess up, don’t focus on it. Keep moving forward. People can see through the screen when someone is focusing on their mistakes which then draws more attention to your mess-ups, so learn to be fluid.
“I’m so proud of the way that these surf athletes are expressing themselves right now.”
Were there any special interviews or meaningful moments that stood out to you?
Honestly, every interview was meaningful to me. I knew almost all the athletes, so I felt we shared a level of comfort that allowed the athletes to give a more vulnerable, confident, and meaningful interview, which was special to me. One that stood out the most was when Balaram’s mom came on stage. It wasn’t shown, but they shared a forehead-to-forehead moment followed by huge smiles and radiant joy. It’s a moment that I’ll never forget.
What excites you most about the future of surfing?
It’s exciting to watch both women and men continue progressing and breaking boundaries. I’m so curious to see where surfing will be in ten years.
The 2023 Vans Pipe Masters runs December 8-20.
