World Champ surfer Joel Parkinson on Occy, Fanning, J-Bay, Snapper
World champion Joel Parkinson has shared plenty of wild and amusing stories from his grommet days and pro tour career at a glittering surfing awards night. FULL Q&A
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Gold Coast world champion surfer and one-time king of Snapper Rocks Joel Parkinson has added Hall of Famer to his resume – but remains forever laid-back and humble.
On accepting the gong at the Australian Surfing Awards on the Gold Coast on Saturday night, he recounted watching the World Surf League Gold Coast Pro at his home break this week.
“Today we were watching the contest at Snapper at home on the TV and my son asked me ‘Dad did you ever surf at a comp at Snapper?’,” he said to huge laughter.
Parkinson won the event in 2009.
“He was probably just at the age where he didn’t get to see me compete … and I said ‘Oh couple of heats, you know’. There were a couple of people in front of me. Uncle Mick (Fanning) stuffed a couple up.”
It was one of many anecdotes shared on the night at QT Hotel by the man dubbed one of the ‘Cooly kids’, the nickname for him and fellow world champion Mick Fanning and Dean ‘Dingo’ Morrison. It emerged when they hit the world surfing stage at the same time two decades ago.
In a Q&A on stage, alongside another world champion Mark Occhilupo and Morrison – who shed tears recounting how surfing alongside Parkinson nowadays felt the same as when they were kids decades ago – Parkinson paid tribute to Australian surfing legend Wayne ‘Rabbit’ Bartholomew.
“Rabbit always instilled in us there was always a Mick Fanning, Dean Morrison and Joel Parkinson on every street corner in the world. So up until we were 17, 18, I figured there were going to be all these kids who were just incredible.
“We were lucky enough we were pushing the boundaries more than chasing them and I thank you for that … for making me s--- myself there were 1000 Mick Fannings out there in the world.”
Earlier in the night, Parkinson, now in his early 40s, told the Bulletin: “You set goals in your life to win events and win a world title but hall of fames is not something you ever set out to do.
“It’s an accolade I’m really proud to have and I’m really excited to get up and accept it.
“The first time I ever came to this thing it was 2005, really early in my career and I remember thinking that’s so cool, some of these old guys get that accolade and recognition and here we are almost 20 years later getting an award. To be the 44th inductee is a huge honour and I’m really stoked.”
He follows in the footsteps of Fanning who “sent me an amazing message this morning wishing me luck and sad he couldn’t be here tonight”.
On accepting the award, Parkinson thanked his wife and kids plus family and friends including his father who was in attendance.
“I wasn’t sure how to do a speech for this kind of award. Because you just don’t ever set a goal to win these. These awards are a huge accolade and it’s an honour to be on that list of people who have come before me and what they have contributed to surfing is incredible.
“I still don’t feel like I’m a genuine hall of famer,” he said, before someone shouted out “bulls---”.
“Honestly, there’s so many pioneers,” he said before mentioning icon Australian surfer and shaper Simon Anderson, Rabbit and Occy “being a mentor to me and a good mate”.
“I feel like I have to start giving back maybe more than I should have and this maybe the kick in the arse to do that and I thank you for that.”
A colourful Q&A on stage included many highlights:
ON WINNING PRO TOUR’S J-BAY SOUTH AFRICA AS A WILDCARD TEEN IN 2000:
“I was adamant I was losing, I couldn’t believe I was in a quarterfinal with Jake Paterson, Jake Paterson was on fire and got through that one and all of a sudden I was a wildcard winner. I think that was one of my greatest wins. It was so naive of me – my first heat was against (Hawaiian pro) Sunny Garcia and I was so scared of him. Paddled out and wouldn’t hassle him. I paddled as far away as I could from him at the top of the point and this wave come to me.”
WHEN WINNING A WORLD TITLE CRYSTALLISED
“Probably watching Mick (Fanning). When Mick snapped his hamstring off the bone and came back with a vengeance to win a world title. It was probably a blessing not just for him but all of us. I’d had a runner up and I thought ‘if I can get second, I can get first’. When Mick won his world title in 2007, I put my head down and by 2009 I felt that was my year but my ankle blew up.”
ON BECOMING WORLD CHAMP IN 2012, EDGING KELLY SLATER
“The year before I won my world title, I wanted to quit, I was so over the tour, I wasn’t over surfing, I always enjoying that but I was so over competing. I don’t know what changed, (but) everything ebbs and flows and come the start of the 2012 season I wanted to be world champion and put my head down and went for it.”
ON HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH SURFING NOW
“It’s amazing. I’ve had a few tickles at the idea of going back and maybe getting a wildcard. But every time I think about it, I love my surfing so much and every time I think about it I think I may not enjoy it as much. The grass isn’t always greener. I haven’t had a bad surf since I retired.”
FULL GALLERY: AUSTRALIAN SURFING AWARDS
AUSTRALIAN SURFING AWARDS 2022
Male Surfer of the Year: Morgan Cibilic
Female Surfer of the Year: Molly Picklum
Griffith University Rising Star Award – Female: Sierra Kerr
Griffith University Rising Star Award – Male: Jarvis Earle
Oakley Heavy Water Award: Kipp Caddy
Reeftip Greater Good Award: Surf Aid’s Make A Wave
Peter Troy Lifetime Award: Mark Lane
Ruffie Coach Of The Year: Bede Durbidge
ACCIONA Innovation Award: Surf Lakes
Zambrero Surf Culture Award: Surfing NSW “Her Wave”
Simon Anderson Club Award: North Narrabeen Boardriders Club
Woolworths Indigenous Surfing Community Celebration Award: Surfing Victoria Indigenous Engagement Program
Female Para-Surfer of The Year Award: Sam Bloom
Male Para-Surfer of The Year Award: Mark Stewart
Surfing Australia Surf Video of the Year: “Re-Pulse” by Justin Gane
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