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Joel Parkinson steps out and up for his second day of surfing and unleashes on Kirra. |
On the afternoon of Sunday the 10th of the 10th 2010 two old mates were re-united… Kirra had been lying dormant for years and 2009 world tour runner up Joel Parkinson lying down for two months. Since his horrible fin chop to the heel incident at Snapper Heads in early July, Parko, has been land locked. His long recovery close to being over the powerful style master paddled out into a clean-faced Kirra line up offering waves around the four to five footmark. There have been reports he surfed the Saturday too but looked tentative on his feet. Even champions deserve one-day grace to get their groove on after an extended amount of time out of the water. Tracks editor Luke Kennedy was in the water with Parko for his Kirra session however and assured us he was now ripping again. “His form was spot on”, said Luke. “I heard he took it easy yesterday, but today he was definitely having a dig.”
As these photos from Simon Muirhead prove Parko’s confidence in his heel seems fine, a powerful bottom turn to beyond vertical re-entry not the move of a man in two minds.
Luke also reported that Parko was over the moon to be in the water at Kirra, which was grinding like days of old (though not nearly at its best). He also jokingly complained of a full stomach to Luke’s amusement. “I just had a big healthy bowl of chicken and vegetable soup,” he told Luke in the water. “But now it’s gurgling around in my stomach.” After the talk about Parko’s insides Luke ironically found himself on the inside of the line up and the scruffy editor eyed a set wave approaching. Wave starved for months and hungry for feet time Parko’s eyes lit up! But we’re guessing his injury and time on the bench has him thankful for the little things as he graciously left the frothing scribe free to ride. “It was probably my best wave,” Luke explained. “I’m sure he wanted it too.” Parko’s session ended with a couple of strong top to bottom showings. With his decision to wait until after the Portugal and Puerto Rico event’s to return to competition one can only conclude he plans on coming back at 100% and firing on all cylinders… Especially if this, only his second session back, is anything to go by.
All photos: Simon Muirhead
