Joel "Parko" Parkinson confiscated his dad's single fin surfboard when he was three, and surfed it all over the yard as if he was getting barreled. While his dad eventually reclaimed the board, he left his son with a shiny new one and the kid took it from there. Parkinson spent his youth surfing the Gold Coast of Australia where he became one of the famed "Coolangatta Kids" alongside current ASP World Champion Mick Fanning and fellow Dream Tour campaigner Dean Morrison. The surfing community first took notice of Parkinson when he won the ASP World Junior Championship and then went on to win the ASP Billabong/MSF Pro (1999) as a wildcard, making him the youngest non-seeded surfer to ever win an ASP World Tour event.

Parkinson has been on the ASP World Tour since 2001 and has so far captured six event wins. In 2005, he added producer and film star to his resume when he teamed up with surf moviemaker Jack McCoy to produce Free as a Dog. For Parkinson, surfing is about winning and keeping the oceans clean so that he and generations to come can continue to enjoy the sport. With his undeniable talent and style to burn, Parkinson will be a threat to the ASP World Title this season.

weight: 185.2 lbs (84 kilos)

height: 6'0" (183 cm)

stance: Regular (natural) foot

sponsors: Billabong wetsuits and clothing, Von Zipper eyewear, Kustom footwear and JS Industries surfboards

shapers: Jason Stevenson

quiver: Three 6'2"s and one 6'1"

favorite waves: Long ones

favorite maneuvers: Big ones

favorite surfers: Kelly Slater, Mark Occhilupo and Matt Hoy

2008 Rating: 3

2008 Points: 6180

2008 earnings: $89,870.00

Career earnings: $844,345.00

highest ASP World Tour rating: 2nd in 2004

years on ASP World Tour: 2008 will be his 8th year

rating by year:
2007: 4th
2006: 6th
2005: 12th
2004: 2nd
2003: 5th
2002: 2nd
2001: 21st

elite inception: Rookie in 2001

filmography: Trilogy (2007), Free as a Dog (2005)

honor roll: Two ASP World Junior Championships, ASP World Title Runner- Up in 2002 and 2004

elite tour victories: (6)
Quiksilver Pro France, South West Coast France (2006)
Boost Mobile Pro, Trestles, USA (2004)
Rip Curl Pro, Bells Beach, Victoria Australia (2004)
Rip Curl Cup, Sunset Beach, Oahu Hawaii (2002)
Quiksilver Pro, Gold Coast, QLD Australia (2002)
Billabong/MSF Pro, Jeffrey's Bay (1999)