World number one surfer to visit New Zealand
Friday 22 May 2009, 10:48AM
By Surfing New Zealand
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Joel Parkinson will visit New Zealand next week as the number one-ranked surfer in the world and the man to beat on the ASP professional surfing tour. “Parko”, as he is more commonly known, placed ninth in the recently completed Billabong Pro (Tahiti). He was competing for a third straight World Championship Tour title after winning the first two events of 2009 on the Gold Coast and at Bells Beach.
Parkinson will travel to Auckland with long time friend and 1999 World Surfing Champion Mark Occhilupo. The pair arrive as part of a Corona promotion which aims to take the two legends to top quality New Zealand waves. Surfing New Zealand Chief Executive Greg Townsend explains: “Our aim is to put two of the world’s finest surfers in the best possible waves we can find. This will be a real spectacle for the local surfing community if we crack the right conditions. To have the current number one-ranked surfer and a former world champion on our shores is fantastic for the sport in this country.”
The Australian duo will free surf at two different beaches between May 28-30 with the list of options including Piha, Raglan, Taranaki, Gisborne, Mount Maunganui and Whangamata. The destinations will be selected on or soon after Monday May 25. Surfing website www.surf2surf.com will publish up-to-date details as they come to hand.