Joel Parkinson - Early Life

Early Life

Known as Parko, he was born in Nambour, Queensland and grew up on Queensland's Gold Coast with fellow surfer Mick Fanning. He started surfing as a child, with his father's board, then he started competing with his friends Dean Morrison and, especially, Mick Fanning. These three guys became known as "The Coolangatta Kids"; it was in these years that he developed his own style and that he won the ASP World Junior Championship.

He became the youngest surfer to win a Billabong Contest, a world event.

In 2004, 2009 and 2011 he classified as number 2, making his own record.

A highly successful competitive surfer, Parkinson has won eleven elite ASP tour victories including the prestigious Pipeline Masters in December 2012.

Another career highlight came for Parkinson during a December 2008 Pipeline Masters third-round heat in Hawaii when he matched Kelly Slater's 2005 record of two perfect 10-point rides under the world tour's two-best-waves scoring system. Parkinson went on to win the Triple Crown of Surfing for 2008 and then again in 2009 and 2010.

In July 2009, while in Jeffreys Bay, South Africa Parkinson launched his new official website 'joelparko.com'.

His sponsor is Billabong with its accessories like Von Zipper eyeglasses and Kustom footwear. He uses JS Industries surfboards.

When the waves aren't high enough, Parkinson likes to fish and to watch his favourite football team matches. He also loves cars. He has recently made a biographic video, "Free As A Dog".