This Is How a Champion Is Made: A Look Back at Joel Parkinson’s Incredible Career

You would be hard-pressed to find a person who actively dislikes Joel Parkinson. His surfing is classic. He is a cornerstone of the so-called Old Guard. He’s a world champion, a dyed in the wool power surfer, a surfer for the everyman. He’s a family man. He’s a grinder. He’s constantly smiling. For a while, he was the guy who should win a title but couldn’t. And Parko’s on his last lap. Here’s a look back at two decades of winning, losing, and learning.