PARKO HAS NO PLANS T O QUIT
AUSTRALIAN Joel Parkinson says he is not joining the Aussie exodus from the world surfing tour after yesterday watching Hawaiian John John Florence become the first man to defend his word surfing crown since Kelly Slater in 2012.
Parkinson and Julian Wilson were the best performing Australians at the Pipeline Masters, with both bowing out in the quarter- finals.
As Florence went on to secure the world crown with his runner- up finish to French surfer Jeremy Flores in yesterday’s final, Parkinson confirmed he will not be following good mates Bede Durbidge and Josh Kerr into world tour retirement. Mick Fanning has yet to confirm his plans for 2018.
“I’m surfing on for sure,’’ Parkinson said from Hawaii. “It’s going to be a really big year next year with the wave pool and everything. I’m really excited.’’
Pipeline was the last World Tour event for both Durbidge and Kerr.
Durbidge is taking up a new role out of the water as he heads up Australia’s first Olympic surfing campaign.
Parkinson said it was unlikely he would put his hand up for this mission but would still like to be involved in some way.
“I think our team will be better served with some young, fresh legs,’’ said exworld champion Parkinson.
Parkinson said Florence and Brazilian Gabriel Medina, who finish the year as surfing’s No. 1 and No. 2 were a level above their rivals at the Billabong Pipe Masters.