Gold Coast surfer Joel Parkinson a champion in and out of the water

JOEL Parkinson’s decision to retire was timely, truthful and testament to his genuine character, writes ANDREW McKINNON

Joel Parkinson’s last appearance as a World Tour competitor at Jeffreys Bay. Photo: WSL/Kelly Cestari

Joel Parkinson’s decision to retire was timely, truthful and testament to his genuine character and he got the jump on his old adversary Kelly Slater, who felt compelled to announce his retirement only after the Gold Coast surfer.

Joel was always destined to be a world champion.

From an early age at Caloundra, he was winning cadets comps and headed for the big time.

When he arrived on the Gold Coast and joined up with fellow Cooly kids Mick Fanning and Dean Morrison, they united like the holy trinity of Coolangatta’s next hottest generation.

Pushing themselves to the limits, they totally dominated the Pro Junior series.

But when they qualified for the World Tour, they were up against a red-hot Andy Irons who inspired a Kelly Slater comeback.

Collectively they were the faces of the new millennium of pro surfing and eventually they got Slater’s measure.

Good mates Joel Parkinson and Mick Fanning share a laugh ahead of the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach event in 2010. Photo: WSL/Kirstin Scholtz

The thing that set Joel apart from the others was his impeccable free-flowing, smooth-as-silk style.

While Irons was innovative, Slater was radical and Mick was fastest, no one compared with Joel’s making-it-look-so-easy, stylish flair.

It was the reason why the judges underscored him because he made it look so ­effortless and wasn’t showing enough aggression.

All of Joel’s 12 world championship tour wins were unanimous and well deserved and I was fortunate to have witnessed a few of those epic matches.

In 2002, Snapper Rocks was the venue of the new World Tour event, the Quiksilver Pro, formerly the Billabong Pro.

Slater had come out of retirement thanks to Andy Irons’ trash talk that Slater’s era was over. There was an amazing early round heat at Burleigh Point between Joel and Slater who hadn’t got his magic back and Joel clearly out surfed the King.

Parko went on to win the final at Snapper and present himself as a serious challenger but his friend and fellow Billabong team rider Irons would go on to win the next three world titles denying Joel a shot and then Slater.

It would take another 10 years for Joel.

Newly crowned world champion Joel Parkinson is swamped by fans and the media as he arrives at Coolangatta airport in 2012.

There were many clashes between the four main combatants.

The rivalry between the Cooly boys and Kelly was palpable.

Joel and Mick shared many finals such as the one in Portugal when they surfed smashed and Joel won.

By 2009, it was looking like Joel’s year when he won the Quiksilver Pro again this time in kegging Kirra Point but halfway into the year when he was way out in front on the ratings, he almost sliced his foot off at Snapper and having to concede again.

One of the most memorable finals I watched was at the 50th anniversary of the 2011 Rip Curl Pro Easter Bells Beach.

The waves were pumping and Joel and Mick were in the final.

Ha-ha, it was like a State of Origin match, Joel the Queenslander up against Mick the Tweed NSW man.

The Victorian sporting mad crowd were cheering their every ride as Joel and Mick traded blows wave for wave but in the end Joel got the nod.

I wasn’t in Hawaii for the 2012 world title showdown but like everybody else was glued to the live webcast watching the drama unfold.

Parko pulls in at Backdoor Pipeline where he will declare his fabulous innings at the end of the year. Photo: WSL/Poullenot

Joel was into the Pipe final and Kelly was up against a fellow Snapper mate Josh Kerr in the semis where Kerrsy sucked the oxygen out of Backdoor, denying Slater a possible 12th world title.

Everybody breathed in a huge sigh of relief that Joel had finally done it, “friggin finally!” he said and the surfing world soaked up that moment when Parkinson was crowned 2012 world champion.

Fanning was the first to congratulate his mate at the water’s edge.

Everybody loves Parko and his amazing contribution to surfing.

Thanks for the ride, Joel.

What an end to an era from the Cooly boys.

You and Mick are leaving big shoes to fill.