Joel Parkinson

JOEL V ANDY… BELLS 2004

Andy at Winki. //Photo Steve Ryan

Andy, interviewed in 2009 from Parko+Friends.

“There was always a friendly rivalry between Joel and I. As soon as that horn goes off I wanna beat him as badly as he wants to beat me. And it’s almost a major scalp, and I remember all the wins and losses against him because they mean so much. I used to smoke him in the early days but he’s come back lately. I remember beating him with two fours in the final in Japan, stuff like that. And then he’s got me some really good ones that’ve scarred me, one time at Bells in a semi in particular. I got the inside first and got caught behind on my first wave. I’ve kicked out in time to watch him get a 9.9 or something, and then paddle back out and get a 10. Then he paddles over to me with 25 minutes left in the heat and goes, “I think I’m gonna go in soon cause I wanna be warm for the final.” I went, “This guy is heavy!” I was ready to do a deal with the devil right there for some miracle to happen and me come back and win that heat, just to see the look on Joel’s face. It was like, if you’re going in, I’m going in. There’s no way I’m sitting out here on my own with 10,000 people watching me getting my ass kicked in a triple combo. It was embarrassing.”

Andy Irons

THE BUSES THAT ATE BELLS

Maurice fighting the good fight at Bells. It’s a sanctuary for surfers and nature lovers… not a car park and a toilet stop for buses.

2011: A HELL BELLS

MAURICE TALKS BELLS

Maurice, Back Rincon to Bells. Has done it once or twice before. Photo//Jon Frank

“The west coast of Victoria is one of the prettiest, most magical coastlines in the world. The spectrum of waves we have on this coast is just amazing. One of the great things is there is a lot of rights too, which suits me. My favourite and certainly the most famous is Bells. I think Bells is one of the most amazing waves on the planet simply because it’s got so many moods. It’s got so many different tides, so many different swell angles, that it’s never the same twice. The waves that I like out there are the long ones from behind Rincon. I like the challenge of surfing through the Bowl. There are certain waves that I’ve got to know over the years that are some of the best waves I’ve ever surfed – they’re certainly not the most hollow waves but you just get these amazing speed runs and big open faces that allow you to do amazing turns. She’s so moody but that’s why I love her. I’ve never had two surfs the same out there, not even close.”

Excerpt from the book Parko+Friends… check it out at flyingpineapple.com.au

BELLS… FINALS DAY 2011