Occy and Parko drive in style

Current world number one surfer Joel Parkinson, known as Parko and his mate surfing icon Mark Occhilupo (Occy) touched down in NZ yesterday to tour some of our best surf spots.

Gone are the days of the crusty surf-mobile. The boys will be driving in style in Santa Fe’s provided by Hyundai.

“In today’s savvy sponsorship market you can no longer just put your product next to a celebrity. It has to have the perfect fit,” commented Joel Grant, Sponsorship and Events Manager, Hyundai Motors New Zealand.

The Santa Fe is New Zealand’s most fuel efficient SUV acclaimed by the 2008 AA Energywise economy rally and is also currently New Zealand’s number one selling diesel passenger vehicle for the past four years*. The fact that it is spacious, reliable, comfortable, technologically advanced, is 4WD and comes with adjustable roof racks as standard are just some of the reasons that make it a great vehicle for our surfers.”

Parko and Occy will be heading to Whangamata tomorrow where they will provide a free surfing exhibition and sign autographs.

If you can’t make it to the beach the guys will be guests on Hyundai CODE, Maori Television on Thursday night at 8.30pm.

Joel continued, “Here at Hyundai we’ve got a pretty big interest in surfing – we run the Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour, we started the Hyundai Big Wave Mission and we’ve been working with board riders clubs around the country to help grow the sport.”

Hyundai have so far helped to raise over $23,000 for the sport and are continuing to add to that by giving $250 to the sport of surfing for any new Hyundai purchased from a Hyundai dealership or $250 to a local board riders club for any (new or used) Hyundai purchased from a Hyundai dealership.**

“Handing over the keys and watching the guys drive off was quite hard” finished Joel. “Living and breathing surfing through our sponsorships has got me kind of hooked on the sport - I bought a longboard last year - but I think it might be a bit obvious if I call in sick tomorrow!

To find out where the guys will be each day visit: www.surf2surf.com
*Source: LTNZ registration figures April 2009.
**Offer expires 31 December 2009. Surfers MUST identify themselves as a Surfing NZ affiliate or local board rider member before purchase to qualify for offer.