Visiting hour.
All stitched up, now just dealing with the boredom of a couple of days in hospital. These two showed up this morning which took my mind off my foot for a while and made me laugh.
Just wanna say thanks to all the messages of support I’ve been getting. It’s made the whole thing a lot less painful. Cheers, guys.
Joel's foot before the docs got at it.
Joel has officially pulled out of next week’s Billabong Pro at Jeffreys Bay after badly slicing his foot while surfing at Snapper Rocks this morning.
“I just pulled into a barrel and been taken out by the foamball, and pretty well straight away I’ve felt the board hit me,” says Joel. “I knew immediately it was a pretty serious cut. I didn’t want to look at it when I came in because I knew it wouldn’t be good.” Joel was helped up the beach to a waiting ambulance by good friend and three-time world champion, Andy Irons who had been surfing with him.
The cut is on the underside of Joel’s right foot, just in front of his heel. Due to fly out early next week for South Africa, the cut will not have time to heal and as such Joel has made the decision to miss the Jeffreys Bay event.
“It’s one of my favourite events, so I’m obviously disappointed that I won’t be there this year. After having such a long break I was really looking forward to competing again and really looking forward to just surfing J-Bay.”
Joel’s disappointment wasn’t confined to missing J-Bay. “Did you see how perfect the wave I did it on was? One of the most perfect waves I’ve ridden at Snapper and I go and cut my foot on it!”
While Joel will miss J-Bay, there is a six-week break until the next event, the Billabong Pro in Tahiti starting on August 23, and there are no doubts that he’ll be ready for it. “In a way I was lucky it happened now and not later in the year when the events are all back-to-back. At least I have the time now to get it right. I just wanna wish all the boys good luck over at J-Bay and I’ll see you all in Tahiti.”
Thanks to all the crew who’ve been offering their support. We’ll keep you posted in coming days.
Wahoooooooo!!! //Photo Jezza Wilmotte
Good waves, good fishing and some good friends. Bula vinaka Fiji!!
Namotu yellowfin. The guy who shot this is a hellman. Does Jezza know how many of these things come to the boat bitten in half? //Photo: Jezza Wilmotte
I’m over in Fiji doing some family time and tuning up for Tahiti in a few reefy lefts. Waves are coming. You know what I’m doing until then.
MONDAY MORNING from Joel Parkinson on Vimeo.