Holiday Highlights: Some Quality Downtime with the Pros

At a glance, it's hard to argue that life isn't one very extended vacation for today's pros. While the pressures on them are very real, even the most battle-hardened Qualifying Series grinders will admit life is pretty darn good. But there's something to be said for taking a vacation from your vacation. Even pros need to unwind and relax, and this quick round-up of their social feeds is pretty revealing of how they're getting the job done. Like the rest of us, they like to escape, spend time with friends, celebrate milestones and just chill. Here's what some of our favorites have been up to.

Carissa Moore

Carissa Moore's wedding was one of the first big events of the off-season. On December 18, the 3x World Champion started her new life with high school sweetheart, Luke Untermann. Stephanie Gilmore, Coco Ho, Bethany Hamilton and John John Florence were among those in attendance. Florence still smelled like beer and champagne after clinching his second World Title just hours earlier that day.

John John Florence

The two-time world champ was one of many who headed into the hills to chase some fresh powder during the holiday break. Not surprisingly, the champ has some serious skills, as evidenced by this very cavalier back flip he pulled during his recent strike mission to Canada.

Matt Wilkinson

Matt Wilkinson is a man of simple pleasures. No need for high-end holidays. Just give him a tiny pool and a floaty device and he's more than fine.

Tyler Wright

We're sure it's a tight race, but there's no doubt Tyler Wright is in the running for the world's coolest aunt. After celebrating her second-straight World Title she's been spending quality time with family, and nothing is more precious than the time she's spending giving Owen's baby, Vali, some early doses of ocean indoctrination.

Kolohe Andino

Kolohe Andino had a very busy off-season, too. It began with his bachelor party in Revelstoke, British Columbia, the perfect place for a killer snowboarding trip with his best buds. After long days of riding they found creative ways to ice their sore muscles.

Mick Fanning

Mick Fanning and his friends are always looking reasons to cut loose, and they needn't be big ones. Mick's late-December gathering had some kind of theme, but even he didn't have a clue as to what it was.

Griffin Colapinto

Griffin Colapinto joined Kolohe's crew on the mountain, where he got busy prepping his hard- carving approach for the 2018 Championship Tour. The 2017 Qualifying Series and Triple Crown champ called this heli-boarding adventure one of the best days of his life.

Gabriel Medina

It was party time for Gabriel Medina. The Brazilian star was welcomed home as a hero after pushing the 2017 World Title race to the edge. If you thought he went home with his tail between his legs, well, you couldn't possibly be more wrong. Medina's legend status is only growing.

The 2014 Champ seems to be enjoying his fame, too, as evidenced by his foray into new adventures like this music video with Luiza Possi, a renowned star in Rio de Janeiro. It's arguably the best acting by a pro since Kelly Slater on Baywatch. Could soap operas be next?

Kelly Slater

The competitive juices are always flowing for 11x World Champ Kelly Slater. Put him on a Hawaiian golf course with several of the world's best ball strikers and he he'll geek and freak on the details. Slater may be slowing down in some areas, but his attention to detail is still rising.

Jack Freestone

Freestone and Alana Blanchard have been spending the past month getting used to carrying around their adorable little accessory, Banks Harvey Freestone. The little guy was born in early December, just in time to make this holiday season the best one ever for the famous surfing duo. And no, Jack isn't the least bit sorry for flooding his feed with baby shots, and we're really happy about that.

Jordy Smith

The South African star and his wife, Lyndall, are taking the slow road back to South Africa. With some time to breath they've taken an extended detour through Italy, where they've explored the canals of Venice and the famed cathedrals of Milan, like the Duomo.

Filipe Toledo

Life is moving pretty darn fast for Filipe Toledo. The 22-year-old star and his wife are taking in their down time watching their baby girl Mahina hit one milestone after another. Watching her navigate Hawaii's soft sand was one of the year's most memorable moments.

Sebastian Zietz

There's no better time than the off-season to take up something new, and Sebastian Zietz was one of many surfers giving the foil boarding craze a good crack. He did it the smart way by taking lessons with North Shore legend Bryan Suratt.

Adriano de Souza

Adriano de Souza wasted no time heading home to Brazil to unwind after another year of hard work. The 2015 World Champ and his wife, Patricia, having been living it up in Salvador, where the deck parties are to die for.

Keanu Asing

Keanu Asing and his wife Kailin joined John John Florence, Sebastian Zietz and a number of other surfing notables to celebrate the marriage of Kolohe Andino to Madison Aldrich in San Clemente, California, January 7. A huge congrats to all of this year's newlyweds is in order.