Joel Parkinson

Robin says:

hey, congrats on being such an amazing person. There has been a lot of great surfers over the years, but very few with your amount of class. I wish you the best of luck on the outcome of the crown, also have some fun mucking about in the off season. next year is yours. ciao

Neil says:

Congratulations Joel. Always love watching you surf and best of luck for next year.

Erik K says:

Joel… I was so impressed (yet not surprised) when I realized you were there and carrying Mick up the beach. Both of you guys… such class acts, really. But your act of humility and decency at that point was a beautiful display of your character. Man, I respect that… you have no idea.

Best of luck next year, my friend, best of luck.

JP says:

Hey Joel,
I surf very regurlay at Snapper/D-bah and have seen you out in the water countless times. I’ve always noticed how friendly you are to everyone out there and now that I think of it, you are the only “Coolie Pro” that has never dropped in on me… And that says lots about your attitude!

I’m sure your time to hold the big trophy will come very soon. Just keep doing what you do and you’ll get there. Good luck for 2010 mate! And good luck for my home boy Tiago for 2010, since he managed to requalify!

Anonymous says:

your the man parko. you don’t know how many people look up to you.
having 1 less title don’t mean you rip any less! ha
anyone who saw your stranger than fiction section knows that.
keep living the dream mate. by the way i watched you surf at piha, had a quick yarn to u and occ. was a bit calmer than that last vodafone surf session! shame about the whangamata local attitude this year with the corona gig..

Pedro says:

Hey,

Seen you in peniche for the search, you killed it outhere against bobby, and you seem a very friendly guy. Your atitude shows you have a lot of character and you are a true friend. Your a true champ dont forget that and my favourite surfer to watch(quick but smooth). Youll get it next year i know it.

By the way i have your dhd 6.2 promodel and i just love it, my brother calls me parko for that….

Eduardo from Brasil says:

Hey Parko!!!
Congratulations for this year!!! You’re a winner!!! Great vitories and surfing as better as ever!!! You’re a good person and your surf shows it… You borned with a gift, just keep doing well… Enjoy your holidays and god bless you and all your family… 2010 full of good stuffs for you, mate!

Adam says:

Parko, you are class act, along with your mate Mick. Both of you handled this amazing race with so much class, without ever giving an inch for you both ultimately wanted. Yourselves, along with your families should be extremely proud of your talents, your maturity, and class. And having Dingo involved with all of this at the end made for even a better situation. Cheers to you all!

Chris says:

Parko, sorry to see you loose. I really felt for you, as I could see it in your body language, I was gunning for you all year. Well the last few years actually, to bring home a world title of your own. You out of everyone on the tour deserve it, in my eyes. There is always next season, and I will be cheering for you again. I was inspired to see you firstly congratulate Mick in water, and secondly to chair him up the beach. It just goes to show you can be a highly competitive person, and still be so gracious & humble in defeat. Not only by your actions but your body language oozed grace and class. If everyone was able to show just a small amount of the grace you displayed that day, the world would be a better place. Thank for showing us the way. Enjoy your small break before next year. May the new year bring you and your family good health and success.

Rick.F says:

Parko you are the style master… nest year will be your year, just keep surfing the way you do and things will com your way…..peace

Shelley says:

Congrats on a great year Parko. You look stronger and fitter then ever before. This is just the beginning of whats to come for you.
I have been cheering for you to get that title since Hawaii last year when you put your head down. Was so disappointed to see you lose that heat but you carried yourself so humbly. You are an inspirational man congratulating Mick out in the water and then carrying your best mate up the beach after losing the title. You have no idea what you have done for the sport and proud us aussies were seeing you do that. Have a rejuventaing break ready and firing for next year.

You will get that title you so wholly deserve and it will be the sweetest thing.

See ya at the Quiky Pro!

Hiro says:

Hello.Parko
My most favorite surfer is Parko, because i look up to you having love in your heart, and surfing.
look up to you.
and i will give my friends the same heart as Parko.

whocares? says:

Parko,
I can’t even begin to imagine what that must have felt like to be so close to grabbing the title but felt just bit short. With that said, the way you carry yourself with still a smile on your face makes me speechless… you’re very gracious in how you handled it. I don’t know if i could do what you did. In my opinion, if the tour was 2 events longer, you’d have had it. We can tell by your physique as you are more healthy and fit than anyone else on tour, (even mick). tough luck on the ankle. I’ll be rooting for you next year, have a wonderful christmas with the fam and happy new years mate. Hope to see you in trestles next year!

The doyle family says:

Joel and family
we want you to know how proud we are to know you as a person and a sportsman.
We know you will be back bigger and stronger next year, Hope you and Monica and the girls have a wonderful chrissy and an amazing new year.
all the best helen martin amiya and brodie doyle.

Tom O says:

hey mate, you are an absolute legend!!!!! your time will come and when it does it will be that much sweeter, if you ever need an escape i know its cold but there is always a place in England for you and you family, i also have a house on the West coast of France which your always welcome to use.

slim richie uk says:

Hi joel have been surfing 6 years now and have been a fan of yours pretty much for the last 5 and a half i watched the whole thing on the webcast. Think you pretty much just summed up the type of person you are laid back easy going complete true surfer i know i would of ment a whole lot but im a big believer in theres nothing you can do but try your best and thats what you did commited to the last, yet grasious in defeat i think it was special that all three best pals were in the water sharing a happy/sad moment bud the sad moments will be forgotten by christmas day when you will be enjoying some family time n putting this year behind ready for a even better year next year
PARKO first world champ of the new decade has a better ring to it anyways
MERRY CHRISTMAS
and Best wishes for the year
Slim richie (north east England

Anthony says:

I don’t know many people who know anything about surfing that don’t consider you a champion. Your style – both in and out of the water – is to be admired and respected. And to think it came down to the wire with one of your mates right next to you…well that’s an unbelieveably rare thing. Something us mere mortals can only dream about. So well done Parko. You don’t need a trophy to be considered a legend.

Anonymous says:

Well done Parko.
When I look back on the 2009 season there will be three things that stand out for me the most.

1. Your surfing this year has been absolutely sublime. So inspiring. At events like Bells & JBay it was jaw dropping really. Thanks for buzzing me out.

2. The intriguing title race that developed between you and Mick, and the climax at Pipe the other day. Mate against mate. It was an insane rollercoaster you guy’s went through and we we along for the ride. I was screaming at the laptop and my partner was in tears after your heat finished. It was quite bizarre and will be something I’ll remember for a long time.

3. And as everyone else has said. The way you conducted yourself after the buzzer. Complete dignity in defeat. Hold your head high Joel you have taught a few people out there how to act under pressure & disappointment.

Also, as I know your a Titans fan, I’d like to point out a saying they always seem to pull out in the NRL around grand final time.
“You’ve got to lose one to win one”
Once you’ve tasted defeat It will make winning one all the more sweeter.

Good luck next year.
JJ

Phil says:

Hey Joel,

Good luck next year, because you definitely deserve it.
Your turn will come, because nice guys do get the goods in the end.

No doubt about it, you have earnt the utmost respect with the way you handled defeat.
My 8 year old son and I were so keen for you to win the title, but it was awesome to be able to show him the way you handled this not coming your way. Great lessons for us all.

All the best in 2010 and we’ll see you at Bells
Enjoy Chrismas with the fam and they must be so proud of you

JP from Rio de Janeiro says:

Parko, I love this quote, and I think it is the perfect moment for you to read it ! It reminds me a lot of you. You are water my friend !

On the power of the fluid – Bruce Lee

Be like water making its way through cracks. Do not be assertive, but adjust to the object, and you shall find a way round or through it. If nothing within you stays rigid, outward things will disclose themselves. Empty your mind, be formless. Shapeless, like water. If you put water into a cup, it becomes the cup. You put water into a bottle and it becomes the bottle. You put it in a teapot it becomes the teapot. Now, water can flow or it can crash. Be water my friend.

Ron says:

Merci Parko

Jeff says:

Joel,

You are a man of consumate style. Keep chasing your dream something good will come from it. You kicked ass this year. Mick might have won the tour, but you beat him in your man vs man heats this year.

Luís from Portugal says:

Hi Parko,

Congratulations for your atitude. You must have a good heart and that`s important in these days….

You are an amazing surfer and your style is unique..

see this video that i hope will help you in the future

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1YDJgVjK_jM&feature=related

Filipa says:

Good job parko!!

Congatulations and good luck for next year

Filipa (Portugal)

Jan says:

Just wanted to thank you for this site and your open thoughts. In case you don’t know – you have a huge fan base in Germany as well. As a matter of fact I personally went to Tweed Heads for studying just to be close to Snapper and surf in your backyard (from 2004 – 2006). Thank you also for all the footage of the Goldie – makes me always want to travel back. With respect to the WCT, I reckon your time is coming and with less bad luck next year the title should be yours. Cheers from Hamburg, mate!

chris says:

Congrats Joel on winning the Triple Crown. What an amazing achievement. You may not have the world title but you have the next best thing. Next year is yours mate!

micky b says:

hey joel, congrats on the triple crown and the season in general, best surfer for the whole year mate by a mile ! enjoy your break now and all the best for next year !

Marcelo from Rio – Brazil says:

Hi Parko !!!
I think your style is amazing, so elegant !!!
You deserve the title next year, I wish you all the best !!
Congrats !!!

Ads from Sydney says:

Parko,
A true champion, a gentleman and a great mate. Carrying Mick up the beach showed what type of person you are……A legend.
Congrats on such a great year….And a Triple Crown!!!!!!
All the best next year.
Yew!!!!!

Victor says:

2 times 3 would be sixfold crown brah !!!!

ZP says:

Remember your heat, this year in Tahiti, with Tiago Pires??? All the Portuguese remember that, you are not very correct, i’m shore that Mick didn’t do that thing… what goes around, comes around.
Congrats for the Triple Crown.
Merry Cxmas for you and your family

Darren says:

I have always been a huge fan of yours Parko and after the class you have shown in Hawaii this year, i am a fan for life. You are truly THE gemtleman of the sporting world and deserve all the success that is coming your way in 2010 and beyond. I shared the water with you when you surfed at Queenscliff in 2008 and i was blown away by your surfing. You are a legend and the world title will be yours. Congratulaions!

Matt says:

Hey Parko,

You probably wont read this but I just wanted to say congradulations! You are my favorite surfer and im from Florida (soo shh keep that quiet), we usually keep our pride close at home (Kling, Asher) like you guys. Pretty stoked on your attitude at the end. You cant really look up to athletes anymore; just look at Tiger haha. Thanks for everything you do for the sport and WOOP Mick NEXT YEAR haha. (sorry mick)

Dave THOMAS says:

Hey Joel, Sold my board when I was 17 and working full time. I am now 43, followed yours and micks race for the title, and bought a board(not a mal) and I am back in the surf. Great stuff you are a champion in every way.

Anonymous says:

Joel, I have to say hats off to you on such an incredible year. They say things happen for a reason and I truly believe you coming second, in Hawaii, happened so that the world could see you carry Mick Fanning up the beach and set a timeless example of incredible sportsmanship. Quite frankly, I believe that will go down as not only one of the greatest acts in surfing history, but sports history as well. If you look around at any sport you will not find anything on par with what you did. You truly did inspire me, and most importantly, kids all around the world. Your world title will come, and I’m sure a few more will follow that. Thanks for staying true to yourself.

Pedro says:

SOUL SURF PARKO !!!!! LET IT BE
ALOHA FROM BRAZIL!

Castle says:

Another Triple Crown…Awesome!!! Pretty knarly year with great sportsmanship!

Mefford says:

congrats to you parko. a triple crown win and you really showed a lot of class doing it.

Jorge says:

Joel,
Congratulations on a superb year and best of luck for 2010.

Shaper Henry Lelot says:

Hi Joel, How do you do? Job almost done, but also in goods hands for sure… May be next year, you also deserve it. I would like to know about that board I gave you here in WCT Brazil – a Turbo Channell model… please send me a feed back, ok?

Best regards and congratulations for these incredible year
Henry Lelot

Dunny says:

Congrats on the back to back triple crowns Parko! Next year is yous mate, although it doesn’t matter anyway as you ahve then respect of most both in and out of the water!

stank says:

Honestly next year is yours…shit, this year was yours depending how you look at it. I ve been keeping up with you a ton in the last two years and your a well rounded, stand up, very impressive athlete!..keep it up homie…Its yours..!!

Dave says:

Hi Parko
Your title aspirations are reminding me of a Tour de France cyclist (dutch) who finished 2nd on 5 seperate occasions to the great Eddy Merckx in the 60’s. This cyclist remained true to his cause and a Tour de France victory eventually came his way at the end of his career. “The greatest victories are the ones we work the hardest for” Hang in there…I know you have the strength of character to win one! Your time will come. Now THAT will be some party!!
Dave and Family
Coolum.

Luc says:

Thanks for all the great surfing you’ve been shown us. Smooth and agressive at the same time, making it look easy. Besides the second place on the title race, there is no doubt you’re a true champion, with that impressive style. Hope you’ll win this thing next year. Congrats Mick anyway… Oz is the great power when it comes to surfing, no doubt on that… Hope Brazilian surfers could have the support since the begining of the career… we are walking to that. Silvana and Adriano are doing a great job, they’re warriors, if you look where they come from… But they still have to learn a lot to get there!
Congratulations again! Good luck next season!

kee says:

i’m just agreeing with the masses, here, -but it’s well worth repeating.

you are the kind of professional athlete the world needs to model what true CHARACTER and INTEGRITY looks like. kid’s now-a-days are lost in the sea of mixed messages. that only $$$$$ + popularity = success. that 2nd = failure. win at any cost…

i know it was a tough loss. i’m an average surfer, at best, living in LA with no business cheering on an Aussie… -but i wanted you to take the top spot SO BAD. -so i know it’s small consolation to many, -but what you did after the loss underlined what most already knew, and confirmed to everyone else that was on the fence: YOU ARE ALL CLASS. an absolute RARITY in this jaded and obnoxious world. it’s only because you were SO CLOSE that the world has seen, without a doubt, what kind of person you really are. a diamond can only be produced under intense, prolonged pressure. like i said, you’re rare.

you most certainly RIP, so the world’s crown will eventually come. -and i’m going to CELEBRATE that day, but please take greater pleasure in that you already own the crown that eludes most. -some don’t even care to chase after it. you’re a GOOD person, Joel. a truly GOOD human being.

God Bless you and yours.

Scott says:

Hey Mate.
No worries you didnt get the world title (this year), you’ve got the sickest style and making just as good sections in the dvds. Your getting the next generation of groms pumped for their next surf sessions. I’d rather have that than a world title anyday!
All the best next year.
Cheering you on,
Scott UK

Jeff says:

Parko, I’ve been a pretty harsh critic about you this year. In fact your wife ripped me up a little bit on Kanga’s page one day – she’ll remember it. But you appear to be too involved in your image. F worrying about your image. You are one of the best surfers in the world “but” I see two things that you can fix. 1. You need to work on your small wave surfing. Bro, there are a lof people on your level in small stuff but not many in big stuff. 2. You have to stop being so nice!!!! Be an asshole bro – unless you don’t want a title. Break a board. Get mad.

See in America most of the pros, I know many, are just regular guys. In Oz they throw you on a pedastal like a god. When polls showed that 70% of all Aussies wanted you and 30% wanted Fanning how do you think Fanning felt? Well, he probably got pissed and said “F” this I”m going to try harder. Parko can keep his fans and I’ll take the title. I personally know a good friend of Fannings right here in San Diego.

That motivates your competition. Do you think Andy gave a shit about fans? Hell no. He hated Kelly and most hated him. But he focused on the one thing that you guys all strive for – the title. And he got it 3 times.

I’m obviously nowhere on your level surfing but I am solid and a very succesful businessman. I am an asshole and have made millions of dollars and I would assume you have too. I did it by running people over with a bus, outworking them, and focusing on the task at hand – not anything that veered me away from my goals. You’ve got too much involvement in keeping your fanbase happy. F them. Get your title!!! Get rid of this website. Why even have it? Everybody is blowing you yet you just lost the biggest prize in surfing!!! It’s not going to get any easier with these new guys coming in and Reynolds starting to figure out how to catch waves.

I respect everything about you, your surfing, your a class act, but you are getting blown way to hard by a bunch of idiots that probably put too much pressure on you. You spend too much time being Mr. Nice Guy. It’s time to be Mr. Asshole, fix your flaws, and win the title or you’ll go down in history, especially after this year, as one of the biggest busts ever. Now – get mad at me because I’m sure all the “blowers” will be raking me across the coals. You were born and bred to win the title. Get the f’ing job done man!!!!

Pli says:

U ruleeee Parko. U stiil number 1. Good waves

Tim Reardon says:

Ya Parko!!!! Congrats on being a true man and sportsman, it doesnt surprise me a bit of your character the way you handled the whole situation on that final day at Pipe….all sports need more men like you!!! Still a true Champion you are, surfing and in life!!!!! Best wishes for next year!!!!

Matt Smith says:

Parko

Those are the words of a true champ! If only a few more people were like you.

I was really rooting for you and sincerely hope you get the title next year.

Fantastic role model for the kids and a great ambassador for the sport.

Good on ya

Matt from the UK

Paulo -Brazil says:

Hey Jeef why A REALLY GOOD SURFER AND COOL GUY CANT WIN A TITLE? YOU ARE SO OUT YOUR MIND DUDE.
You dont need to be a ass h… to be a champ! Look Occy/Curren they were bad guys…they only put they talent to work!
Dont be such an ass!

Go get them with your talent Parko!
You had it a lot Bro!

Coco Ho says:

Hey JP… TRIPLE CROWN!!!!!! Had a great time watching and hanging out with you guys while you were over here! Woop, little drunk now – Party time ;p

You can have me anytime, any place and anyway you want Joel. Tweet me.

Pamela Anderson says:

Ooooh Joel. I want you to squeeze my boobies. Who wants a motorboat?

stevo says:

I remember that heat you had with Davo in round 4 at snapper (spot X) this year. I was gunning for you so hard and when that wave that everyone was sure would be the last of the heat didnt give you anything I was spewing thinking it would be another one of those years for you. Then as you paddled out looking pissed yourself you stroked into that pefect little pit that seemed to come staright to you with only a few seconds left I knew you were going to win that event after that and really thought the title would be yours after that heat.

Craig says:

Joel,
I admit I was rootin for Mick but after he won and I saw your reaction and how you carried your self (and Mick) I was drawn into being a Parko fan like never before. As others have commented here: You and Mick both seem to have great personalities and know how to spread the stoke of surfing. You are a great example to others and for that I Thank you! Surfing at the level you and the other Pro do brings the ability to be a hero, a mentor, an ambassador to the sport and it is not wasted on guys that do it like you do.
Last week, I was snowboarding in Tahoe, California, USA. That’s where I live.
I met a guy from Huntington Beach on the lift and we chatted enough to figure we were both missing a giant swell on the coast but realized how lucky we were to be in the situation where we could choose between epic surf and powder runs on our boards.
We talked more about surfing and he remarked how he was a big fan of yours and was so bummed out when you lost. I told him how I was rooting for Mick, was there at Trestles when he won, and how I had always been a Kelly fan but had sort of switched; dropped the flag waving aspect and saw a new attitude and approach to surfing that I liked. He shared the same sentiment. After that lift ride up I am now wondering who will I root for this year? Uh shit! Probably Bobby M. LOL. Good luck this year. Let me know when you are coming to Tahoe for some snow. Bring the kids I got a bunch too! Now go grab a Toohies Old! (my favorite Aussie Beer)