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Joel Parkinson creates surfing history at Pipeline Masters
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(Hawaii)
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JOEL Parkinson etched his name in surfing's record books alongside Kelly Slater with a perfect 20 score at the Billabong Pipeline Masters n Hawaii.
The Australian world No.4 pulled out spectacular tube rides in two-metre waves today to notch two 10 out of 10 scores and advance to the fourth round with a real chance in the event.
In the process he eliminated Triple Crown leader Dusty Payne and gave himself a great chance to claim that honour as top performer in the three events in Hawaii.
Nine-time world champion Slater is the only other surfer to have scored a perfect 20 out of 20 since the ASP world tour introduced the best-two-waves scoring system in 2000, achieving the feat to win the 2005 final at Teahupoo, Tahiti.
“I never thought I would get two perfect 10s,” Parkinson said.
“Kelly did it in unreal fashion, mine was a just in a third round heat, but it's at Pipe and it's definitely something that, when I grow old, I'll think I did something in my career; my name's next to Kelly's on that one.”
American Shane Beschen holds a record that can't be beaten, having scored three perfect 10s in a heat on the Gold Coast in 1996 under the previous three-best-wave scoring system.
Parkinson finished fifth in Halewia and Sunset - the first two legs of the Triple Crown - and with frontrunners Payne and CJ Hobgood both losing on Wednesday, is eyeing that prize.
“That was a big heat for the Triple Crown for sure,” Parkinson said.
“I have to start thinking more about the Triple Crown now.
“I have to forget about those 10s and start surfing heats from now on and not get too ahead of myself.”
Seeded into round three, Slater surfed his first heat since clinching world title No.9, easily accounting for local Ezra Sitt, and was not surprised by Parkinson's perfect performance earlier.
“I'd expect Parko to be the guy to do that,” Slater said.
“He is such a magnet and not every guy can get in sync like Parko does. He gets on a roll and it gets scary.
“He will probably go on to win the Triple Crown judging from the heat he had today.”
Slater has won the Pipeline Masters a record five times, but is taking a very laid-back approach to the event in 2008. He has already won five events of the nine he has competed in this season.
“A win at Pipe would be great but, to be honest with you, it doesn't really matter at this point,” Slater said.
“Not that Pipe doesn't matter, but I'm just enjoying not having the constant contest stress.
“If I win it is definitely a huge bonus but, in a way, I'd like to see somebody else win, someone who hasn't won it before - maybe it's Parko's year.”
Defending Pipeline Masters and Triple Crown champion, Australian Bede Durbidge, is also into round four after eliminating wildcard Shane Dorian.
World No.3 Taj Burrow lost, assuring Durbidge a career-best world No.2 year-end rating behind Slater.
The Australian world No.4 pulled out spectacular tube rides in two-metre waves today to notch two 10 out of 10 scores and advance to the fourth round with a real chance in the event.
In the process he eliminated Triple Crown leader Dusty Payne and gave himself a great chance to claim that honour as top performer in the three events in Hawaii.
Nine-time world champion Slater is the only other surfer to have scored a perfect 20 out of 20 since the ASP world tour introduced the best-two-waves scoring system in 2000, achieving the feat to win the 2005 final at Teahupoo, Tahiti.
“I never thought I would get two perfect 10s,” Parkinson said.
“Kelly did it in unreal fashion, mine was a just in a third round heat, but it's at Pipe and it's definitely something that, when I grow old, I'll think I did something in my career; my name's next to Kelly's on that one.”
American Shane Beschen holds a record that can't be beaten, having scored three perfect 10s in a heat on the Gold Coast in 1996 under the previous three-best-wave scoring system.
Parkinson finished fifth in Halewia and Sunset - the first two legs of the Triple Crown - and with frontrunners Payne and CJ Hobgood both losing on Wednesday, is eyeing that prize.
“That was a big heat for the Triple Crown for sure,” Parkinson said.
“I have to start thinking more about the Triple Crown now.
“I have to forget about those 10s and start surfing heats from now on and not get too ahead of myself.”
Seeded into round three, Slater surfed his first heat since clinching world title No.9, easily accounting for local Ezra Sitt, and was not surprised by Parkinson's perfect performance earlier.
“I'd expect Parko to be the guy to do that,” Slater said.
“He is such a magnet and not every guy can get in sync like Parko does. He gets on a roll and it gets scary.
“He will probably go on to win the Triple Crown judging from the heat he had today.”
Slater has won the Pipeline Masters a record five times, but is taking a very laid-back approach to the event in 2008. He has already won five events of the nine he has competed in this season.
“A win at Pipe would be great but, to be honest with you, it doesn't really matter at this point,” Slater said.
“Not that Pipe doesn't matter, but I'm just enjoying not having the constant contest stress.
“If I win it is definitely a huge bonus but, in a way, I'd like to see somebody else win, someone who hasn't won it before - maybe it's Parko's year.”
Defending Pipeline Masters and Triple Crown champion, Australian Bede Durbidge, is also into round four after eliminating wildcard Shane Dorian.
World No.3 Taj Burrow lost, assuring Durbidge a career-best world No.2 year-end rating behind Slater.