Joel Parkinson
| Joel Parkinson | |
|---|---|
| |
| Personal information | |
| Born | 10-04-1981 (age 43) |
| Birth place | Nambour, Queensland, Australia |
| Birth name | Joel Leslie Parkinson |
| Nickname | Parko |
| Residence | Tweed Heads, New South Wales, Australia |
| Height | 1.83m |
| Weight | 80kg |
| Surfing specifications | |
| Stance | Natural (regular) foot |
| Sponsors | Billabong, JS Industries, Kustom, Sony, Von Zipper |
| Major achievements | ASP World Title 2012, Two ASP World Junior Championships, ASP World Title Runner- Up in 2002, 2004, 2009 and 2011, Perfect 20 at Billabong Pipeline Masters (2008), Vans Hawaiian Triple Crown of Surfing Winner (2008)[1] |
| Website | joelparko.com |
Joel Parkinson is an Australian surfer who competes on the ASP (Association Of Surfing Professionals) World Tour. After twelve years competing at the elite level on the ASP World Championship Tour, a stretch that saw him win eleven elite ASP World Title Events, plus nine additional ASP tour events, and achieve runner-up second place to the ASP World Title four times,[2] Parkinson won his only ASP World Championship Tour Surfing Title on 14 December 2012 in Hawaii at the Banzai Pipeline during the ASP World Tours' final event for 2012–the Billabong Pipeline Masters.[3] Parkinson hung on in a grueling back and forth battle with eleven-time ASP World Title holder, Kelly Slater, to get his first World Title, as well as go on to win the highly-coveted Pipeline Masters, only after Slater lost his semi-final heat to Josh Kerr, of Queensland, Australia. Parkinson beat Kerr in the finals of the event, which was his seventh top-five placing for the year, and his first event title win for 2012.[4]
Early life
Known as Parko, he was born in Nambour, Queensland and grew up on Queensland's Gold Coast with fellow surfer Mick Fanning.[5] He started surfing as a child, with his father's board, then he started competing with his friends Dean Morrison and, especially, Mick Fanning. These three guys became known as "The Coolangatta Kids"; it was in these years that he developed his own style and that he won the ASP World Junior Championship.
He became the youngest surfer to win a Billabong Contest, a world event.
In 2004, 2009 and 2011 he classified as number 2, making his own record.
A highly successful competitive surfer, Parkinson has won eleven elite ASP tour victories including the prestigious Pipeline Masters in December 2012.[1]
Another career highlight came for Parkinson during a December 2008 Pipeline Masters third-round heat in Hawaii when he matched Kelly Slater's 2005 record of two perfect 10-point rides under the world tour's two-best-waves scoring system.[6] Parkinson went on to win the Triple Crown of Surfing for 2008 and then again in 2009 and 2010.
In July 2009, while in Jeffreys Bay, South Africa Parkinson launched his new official website 'joelparko.com'.[7]
His sponsor is Billabong with its accessories like Von Zipper eyeglasses and Kustom footwear. He uses JS Industries surfboards.
When the waves aren't high enough, Parkinson likes to fish and to watch his favourite football team matches. He also loves cars.
He has recently made a biographic video, "Free As A Dog".
| ASP World Tour Wins (as of 19 Feb 2015) | |||
| Year | Event | Venue | Country |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Billabong Pro Jeffreys Bay | Jeffreys Bay | South Africa |
| 2002 | Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast | Gold Coast, Queensland | Australia |
| 2002 | Rip Curl Cup | Sunset Beach, Oahu | Hawaii |
| 2004 | Rip Curl Pro | Bells Beach, Victoria | Australia |
| 2004 | Boost Mobile Pro | Trestles, California | USA |
| 2006 | Quiksilver Pro France | Hossegor | France |
| 2009 | Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast | Gold Coast, Queensland | Australia |
| 2009 | Rip Curl Pro | Bells Beach, Victoria | Australia |
| 2009 | Billabong Pro Jeffreys Bay | Jeffreys Bay | South Africa |
| 2011 | Rip Curl Pro | Bells Beach, Victoria | Australia |
| 2012 | Billabong Pipeline Masters | North Shore (Oahu) | Hawaii |
| 2013 | Oakley Pro Bali | Keramas, Bali | Indonesia |
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Joel Parkinson. aspworldtour.com (2009)
- ↑ [1]
- ↑ [2]
- ↑ Joel Parkinson takes world surfing title after Slater's semi-final loss. The Australian. Retrieved 20 December 2012.
- ↑ Faen , Jesse (9 March 2005). Snippets Of A Determined Mind. Transworldsurf.com. Retrieved 20 December 2012.
- ↑ Perfect Parkinson rides into history books. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 12 December 2008.
- ↑ joelparko.com
External links
- Official website
- Joel Parkinson on Twitter
- Joel Parkinson on Facebook