Joel Parkinson – The Velvet Rail Master
“Silky Smooth, Dangerously Precise”
🌊 Basic Info
Full Name: Joel Parkinson
Nickname: Parko
Born: April 10, 1981 – Nambour, Queensland, Australia
Nationality: Australian
Surfing Stance: Regular
Favorite Surf Spots: Snapper Rocks, J-Bay, Kirra, Bells Beach
🏆 Career Highlights
Championships & Titles:
2012 World Champion – finally clinched the crown after several runner-up finishes
4× Runner-up in the World Title race (2002, 2004, 2009, 2011)
3× Triple Crown of Surfing winner
Notable Competitions:
Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast, J-Bay Open, Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach, Pipe Masters
Had a decade-long rivalry and friendship with Mick Fanning
Best Performances:
2012 season – dominant across all wave types, finally claiming a long-deserved World Title
2009 Bells Beach – one of his most polished victories, carving the point to pieces
J-Bay – unmatched flow on those long right-handers
Signature Moves:
Silky rail surfing, impossibly smooth bottom turns, and seamless linking of maneuvers
Known for having one of the most aesthetically beautiful styles in surfing history
Could draw out turns that looked like they belonged in slow motion
🏄♂️ Surfing Style & Equipment
Board Preferences:
Rode JS Industries boards throughout his career, often sticking with tried-and-true thrusters
Preferred slightly fuller outlines for flow and speed
Wetsuit & Gear:
Lifelong team rider for Billabong – a face of the brand during its golden competitive era
Also sponsored by Dragon, Monster Energy, and VonZipper during his prime
Training & Fitness:
Kept a strong but relaxed training approach – focused on water time and balance
Trained with Mick Fanning and others on the Gold Coast, mixing gym work with lots of time in the surf
Wave Preferences:
Right-hand point breaks were his canvas – Snapper, Bells, J-Bay
Also delivered in big barrels like Pipeline and Teahupo’o when the conditions called for it
🌍 Life Beyond Surfing
Hobbies & Interests:
Family man, surfer, and fishing enthusiast
Involved in surf mentoring, commentary, and supporting Aussie surf events
Owns Balter Brewing along with Mick Fanning – an award-winning craft beer label
Social Causes:
Supports local ocean protection initiatives and youth surf development programs in Queensland
Involved in efforts to preserve Australia’s surfing coastline and public access to waves
Fun Facts:
Parko and Mick Fanning were groms together at Snapper and rose through the ranks side by side
Known for his mellow, laid-back attitude—rarely rattled, always stylish
Narrated and featured in the surf documentary Free as a Dog
🎥 Photos & Videos
His heats at J-Bay are surf textbook material – especially his 2012 and 2013 runs
Often appears in Billabong team edits and Gold Coast surf films
📢 Latest News & Updates
In 2025, Joel continues to work with Billabong on a retro boardshort collection and surfboard collabs with JS
Recently commentated on the Gold Coast Challenger Series event alongside Mick Fanning
Balter Brewing launched a new “Rail Line Pale Ale” inspired by Parko’s legendary flow
