Parko’s out to claim classic Burleigh hat-trick
FORMER world surfing champion Joel Parkinson has hailed the looming Burleigh Boardriders’ 2020 Single Fin Festival as “the one contest I really enjoy nowadays”.
The three-day festival is a celebration of surfing heritage and history, running on January 10-12 at Burleigh Point.
With another strong crowd expected it is likely to serve up scenes reminiscent of the Stubbies Classic in the late 1970s.
The festival starts with the charity luncheon on Friday, January 10, with the Single Fin
Classic to follow across the weekend.
Entries for the classic filled within 90 minutes of being released online this week, showing that a place in this iconic event is now one of the hottest tickets in town.
Competitors are required to surf on antique pre-1985 single fin surfboards.
Among the hot field of local heroes will be some surfing stars, including 2012 world champion Parkinson, winner in 2017 and 2019.
But like everyone else on Burleigh Point it is all about with Andrew McKinnon the fun for the 38-year-old.
“This is the one contest I really enjoy nowadays,” Parkinson said.
“But what makes it so special is the local community enjoying the weekend on Burleigh Point with lots of laughs and good times.”
There is some serious competition with surfers from all over the country coming to compete in the Single Fin Classic, and also two wildcards making their way from Indonesia, who both secured their place in the contest through a sister event in Uluwatu.
World champion from 1999, Mark Occhilupo, will be putting on the contest singlet over the two days.
Past champions Creed McTagget, Harrison Roach and Tai Graham will be in the mix as well as Burleigh’s own world tour up-and-comer Liam O’Brien.
There is also a women’s and junior division, with big wave charger Felicty Palmateer and up-and-coming juniors Pascha Luque-Light and Liliana Bowery the ones to watch.
Burleigh Boardriders’ own Queensland champions Rico Haybittle and Chez Bos will be out to win at their local break, fresh from the Australian Junior Titles in Western Australia.