Two-time world champion John John Florence says his devastating run of knee injuries has helped transform him into a smarter and stronger surfer who no longer views winning as the No.1 priority.

Florence appeared destined to embark on a period of greatness after winning world titles in 2016 and 2017.

But a partial tear to his right ACL while freesurfing in 2018 sparked a cruel run of injuries to both knees.

Florence competed in just five WSL championship events in 2018, four in 2019 and three in 2021.

The 2020 WSL tour was wiped out due to COVID-19.

Florence suffered recurring ankle injuries earlier in his career and also fractured his back.

But it's the knee injuries, which included MCL and ACL tears on both knees, that kept him out of the water the longest.

Despite the devastation each injury has brought, the 29-year-old has tried his best to take positives out of the situation.

"I think it's made me a better surfer in a weird way, I think a smarter surfer," Florence told AAP.

"I feel like I'm more patient on the wave, and I feel like I'm stronger because I'm training more."

Florence's perfect 10-point ride on the way to winning the Haleiwa final last week, which included a frontside reverse, a barrel and a huge aerial move, proved his run of injuries haven't robbed him of his skill or power.

And although Florence has his eyes set on winning the 2022 world title, he says his main priority now while surfing is about enjoyment.

"Before (the injuries) all I could think about was, 'I just want to win'," Florence said.

"Now it's more about, 'Ok, how do I relax enough to surf how I really want to surf these waves'.

"It seems so simple, but it's such a hard mindset to get into allowing yourself to surf how you would surf normally, without all that extra anxiety of it being in a contest and having people watching and judging you.

"I think I appreciate it more now than I ever have before especially after these last couple of years."

Florence's hopes of competing at this year's Tokyo Olympics looked shot after damaging the ACL in his left knee during WA's Margaret River Pro in May.

But his determination to be part of surfing's Olympic debut saw him make a remarkable return to competition less than three months after surgery.

Only "75 per cent" fit in Tokyo and subsequently eliminated in the third round by Kolohe Andino, he was proud just to be there.

Florence said he wore Therabody's RecoveryAir boots about "six times a day" as well as using muscle stimulator PowerDot to speed up the healing process.

"For those two months leading up to the Olympics it was 24/7 recovery all day," Florence said.

"There was never a point where I was just sitting around. I was always doing something to get my knee better."