Parko right at home in Bali
IT MAY have been five years since the Bali Pro was part of the World Surf League’s championship tour but Joel Parkinson picked up where he left off in the event, with a dominant showing in the opening round at Keramas.
Parkinson won the event in 2013, his last title win on the CT tour in the year after he finally snared the world championship. And the Gold Coaster is thrilled at his shot to surf the reef break again.
In pumping 2-2.4m conditions yesterday, Parkinson overcame Brazil’s Italo Ferreira and Keanu Asing, of Hawaii, to progress directly to Round 3 of competition, with his experience paying off in the conditions.
“It was definitely tricky to know what waves were going to be good out there,” he said.
“All three of us made a few mistakes on wave choice which can be the case in the first heat of the day.”