Career
Known as Parko, he was born in Nambour, Queensland and grew up on Queensland"s Gold Coast with fellow surfer Mick Fanning. He and Fanning both attended Palm Beach Currumbin State High School together. Parkinson, Fanning and Morrison became known as "The Coolangatta Kids" and it was in these formative years that he developed his own style while also winning the Association of Software Professionals World Junior Championship.
In 2004, 2009 and 2011 he classified as number 2, making his own record.
Another career highlight came for Parkinson during a December 2008 Pipeline Masters third-round heat in Hawaii when he matched Kelly Slater"s 2005 record of two perfect 10-point rides under the world tour"s two-best-waves scoring system. In July 2009, while in Jeffreys Bay, South Africa Parkinson launched his new official website "joelparko.com".
His sponsor is Billabong with its accessories like Von Zipper eyeglasses and Kustom footwear. He uses JS Industries surfboards.
When the waves aren"t high enough, Parkinson likes to fish and to watch his favourite football team matches.
He also loves cars. He has recently made a biographic video, "Free As A Dog".