Barrels on the Bar for Occy and Parko

Swell predictions came good today (Thursday 28th May) for the first stop of the Corona Surf Trips featuring current world number one Joel Parkinson and 1999 World Champion Mark Occhilupo. The famous Whangamata Bar fired into action as the tide dropped with the two metre easterly swell producing perfect barrels for the boys.

After a quick session of signing autographs for the crowds on the beach, Parko warmed up with a surf on the main beach before both him and Occy got to sample the long lefts on the Bar.

Occy, who was last in Whangamata 15 years ago, obliged with three long barrel rides on his first three waves. Parko also chimed in with an epic backhand barrel on one of the bigger sets of the day.

“That was such fun out there” commented Occy. “The place breaks like a mini Mundaka” he added in reference to the best wave Spain has to offer.

Tomorrow will see the two surfers fly to Gisborne where the swell forecast looks promising. New Zealand surfers and Gisborne locals Maz Quinn and Bobby Hansen will join the boys on arrival, providing valuable local knowledge and additional fireworks in the free-surfing display.

Surfing website www.surf2surf.com will provide up to date information, exhibition times and exact locations of the Corona Surf Trips as they come to hand.