Joel Parkinson Hospitalized

Friday, 09 July 2010 00:00

Words: Mark Rosenberg
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"Did you see how perfect the wave I did it on was? One of the most perfect waves I've ridden at Snapper and I go and cut my foot on it!" - Parko. Pic Shield.

This morning Joel Parkinson’s J-Bay preparations were cut short when he went down inside one of Snapper’s pits. ASL Photographer Andrew Shield was on hand documenting the session and confirmed the nasty accident.

“He tucked into a super dredgy one and just disappeared inside, then showed up bobbing around in the whitewash. He was definitely in a lot of pain. There were no rocks where he went down so he must have gotten mixed up with his board.”

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Mid-season ankle injury deja vu? Pic Shield.

Shieldsy was doubtful the reigning J-Bay champ would be able to surf next week in South Africa. “He was cut down to the bone around his ankle and calf area. He definitely wasn’t walking.” Andy Irons (who broke his board hours earlier) assisted Parko up the beach and waited with him for an ambulance.

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Help arrives. Pic Shield.

A crowd of on onlookers swarmed as Parko waited for the paramedics to arrive. They were wearing looks of disbelief and no doubt thinking the same thing – Will Parko be able to bounce back from this?

porky
Parko is having surgery this afternoon. Pic Parko on Twitter.

"I pulled into a barrel then was taken out by the foamball and pretty well straight away I felt the board hit me," says current world number eight. "I knew immediately it was a pretty serious cut. I didn't want to look at it when I came in because I knew it wouldn't be good."

Despite the pain from the injury and the disappointment of missing J-Bay, Parko is already positive about his recovery. "In a way I was lucky it happened now and not later in the year when the events are all back-to-back. At least I have the time now to get it right and get ready for Tahiti."

Click here for video interview with Parko about his injury and recovery time.

Comments (97)

How you going hope you get better we think you will be able to catch up a fair bit we like your style

KELLY SLATER 2010 BOOM!

clean cuts heal quick, stay positive

Poor bugger! Man that must have hurt!

Come down to Sydney and we'll look after your rehab mate.

Brad, Cameron and Chris
www.primalmovement.com.au

Hope your feeling better digger!!
Eat well and rest up. Good luck with the future.

sorry I hope you can feel better, no surfing no life..

dam . feel better soon !!

gnarly chunk man get better soon

Geez- title race or not holy smokes that's a nasty gash. But the reality- world title or not- JP ur the best of the best- heal up and speedy recovery brutha and look fwd to seeing u back in action!

hope you are feeling better soon Parko. such a shame to hear this happen to you. good luck

how did this happaned? from the board ? or from the shallow reef ? feel batter

MINORZZZZZZZZZZZ

Get better soon, Parko! We'll miss your ripping for a bit, but know you'll be back better than ever! Mend and chill with the family! Aloha!

Thats real stiff Parko. Your year will come champ! Nice gash though! Will get in slash of the month! Take it easy and im sure you Mick,Taj and co will stick it to em again this year! And to the fuckhead calling himself Kelly, obviously youre a fucking nothing mate! A fat prick who wishes hes got enough skill and fitness to surf like the rest of us who actually do...
FUCK OFF TAMPON STUFFER

No way cuz, that looks sick az, far out! Thingz happpen for a reason maybe it way time for a break from the tour and time to reflect on what you have achieved and who's important in your life, the tour with always be there, year in year, enjoy the break! come back to NZ soon eh!

get well soon!!!

it's too bat.

we worry about him because he got a very big injured.

we hope he can getting better as sooner.

Unlucky,

thanks, that's just made my year a little easier..

10.

on my wasy out.

ASP can go to hell.

I'm taking my 10 titles and going to ESPN.

leave you losers to batte for scraps.

parko dont know ya but get better thats gnarly but ull be back

That is a serious cut. Get well soon Parko. God bless you man!

some superglue and duct tape ought to fix that in time for jbay

You always come back stronger.
Aloha

Why cant everyone just learn to spell?

You may not believe you can heal up now, but I got a similar injury many years ago. I actually stepped on a broken beer bottle that some idiot stuck in the sand, ragged edge up. And my heel eventually healed completely. I almost forgot about it completely until now. But your painful looking picture reminded me. I got careless with my cut and it got infected. So don't do what I did. Keep it clean. And no stress. No walking on it for a while. You will be fine in a few months.
All the best wishes for a speedy recover

Poor little baby! got a little cut. Missy missy. You will be ok....

Snapper? Really? Well then it's even more positive, you're with you're family - JBay's not going to be the same this year.

Speedy recovery mate. On a positive note, SA has the world's best emergency doctors - you'll be on the rebound in no time.

For all the years you charge the Biggest heaviest waves around the world ! You get bit bye a 3foot back yard pit..
l hope this isnt a Slater Machardo Friendship thing
Between Mick&You....

Parko,
Sorry to see this.You are a class act,and a great ambassador for the sport.Get better soon,the tour needs you.
JZ SoCal.

why are fins so sharp? looking at the pic made my balls hurt.

get better parko!!!!!!!

parko mate ALL israeli surfing are bummed-ur king of style the only heir to curren in jbay 90's sessions

the cut looks super nasty-
at least youll have time with family and not on the road-regards to louie egan from tel aviv israel

come back fast! hear us?
aloha

You are in our prayers for a speedy recovery. We love the way you shred. You will come back stronger than ever I'm sure of it!

Papa Wardo
Huntington Beach, CA

Dammm, that's nasty!

I just got a fin chop a few days ago... now I feel like a pussy for complaining..haha

Heal quickly Parko

ESPAÑA TIO ESTA CONTIGO RECUPERATE RAPIDO TIO Y PRONTO AL AGUA A SURFEAR

Oh no Parko, come over to my place and i will lick it better, bring Andy as well

joel is a legend and i hope he can recover quickly so he can be back 2 moving up de world rankings..

Nasty looking cut let it heal Parko SID

not easy to recover :( the skin there is specially delicate

gash of the month for sure! shit luck parko.

nasty!.... worst luck parko. mend quick ok

nooooooooooooooooo

bad, bad news !
Good luck Parko and speedy recovery ! Teh tour needs you.

Parko will still win the World title!! The fire has been lit....

probably the nastiest fin chop i've seen. should heal well tho. hopefully soon! devistating for eveyone backing you up in the title race. you deserve way better luck buddie!!

Freak accident. Praying for your speedy recovery. You'll be back bruddah. It's a long season. Anything is possible.

Wow, think of all the waves you've caught out there and how rare it is that you get hurt. Amazing percentages. Heal up Parko and back to business. In the mean time enjoy home and family. As you say in Aus. "no worries mate".

Heal fast Joel, thoughts are with you....love you heaps. xox

Parko... the "right ankle" thing.... is the "masculine ego" thing... like the "stomach" thing is the "will, volition" thing; like the "shoulder" thing is the "responsibility" thing.... this parallelisms psycho-physical... its not just by chance... theres info in theese accidents... Just breath out this energy that is fucking with your ankles, your masculine ego should be on top of the world, for what Im going to say next, not on the bottom because you still dont get this trophy... the comment that says that you lost WT for your son and anotherone for some other stuff... the son part makes you just a greater person. Your ego should be intact mate, such a great person you are. Really dont remember someone our sport could be so proud of as an ambassador overall with this kinf of high quality as a human being.

SCRUB IT KOOK!!!

Thats hectic!
Hope for a speedy recovery.
Kelly for his 10th!

this don't look to good bra i've took taj at $7.00 to take the title . But this will change the market big time.

Not good parko,get well soon.

Whew! A deep cut like that on the heel which is a highly mobile and weight bearing part of the foot takes months to heal.

Parko if you want to heal quickly consider hyperbaric oxygen tratment. A few sessions a week and you'll double your healing time. If you don't believe me look into it, you've got the time now.

Scrolling down the page to see the cut was awesome. no warning!!!
Poor bastard. Tough when you're a professional sportsman.

Joel: Very sorry to hear of this. I was really looking for a big win by you at J-Bay! Health tip: Avoid all alcohol until it is properly healed. It will aid the healing process and help you avoid infection. Also try this Ayurveda formula: "Flexcel" from www.mapi.com. It will accelerate healing. And Amrit Kalash Nectar from the same company, a very power immune booster; all natural. I have used these products regularly to stay young. Healed from a foot injury where I broke a bone in 3 pieces, and it healed in 6 weeks, perfectly, and I am practically twice your age.

Thats clearly a knife cut, no way a fin could do that kind of damage.

Quiksilver frogman with a switchblade in the lineup?

Nothing can stop 10 in 2010 for them now...nothing...

THAT is a gnarly lookin gash my friend, and I feel bad for you, and for all of us that don't get to watch you rip J-Bay. Best of luck, and it's good to know you'll get the best of treatment and be back out there as soon as possible.

hey Holly Knobgobbler. You seem like one of those that always says the wrong thing at the wrong time. Only someone like you would say something at a moment like that. Not surprising coming from someone with a name like yours. I'd be mad at the world all the time too if i were you. I want to say please don't ever procreate, but the world needs people like you to make examples of what you NEVER want your children to turn out like. ;) Get well Joel!

You are already on the road to recovery! You will be back in the surf soon winning contests again. Imua!

So sorry to get the unfortunate news Parko :(
Heal soon dude, you have a lot of fans here in Cali wishing you a speedy recovery bro. Can'y wait to see
back in the line ups in the near future.

Poor Parko...was hoping an event defense from one of the most stylish surfers on the planet...chin up!

jordy vs slater in this years final...

Parko just handed the King the ultimate prize - the final jewel in the crown in those 10 titles - but Joel is a fighter & will not go down without a massive cloud of dust. Get that magic glue out Parko.

Sorry to hear mate of your fin slash and will miss you in J-Bay. Will make sure of a win and dedicate the win to you.

Aaaah Bummer! Such a pleasure watching you surf Supers!
Hope ther's no lasting damage...

kelly is gonna win this year anyway. good time to take a break

Hope it heals soon brotha. I'm sorry this happen

deep as fin gash...you'll be back

We will pray for you Parko & you will heal.

Seriously.

Stitch it up and surf r u mental he almost cut his heel

damn, talk about bad luck for Parko! 2 years in a row...

he was my dark horse & pick for the top 8 guys in my seeded picks for fantasysurfleague.com

after seeing that picture I doubt he'll be healed enough to surf JBay. such a bummer!!

guess I'll be taking Slater instead

Parko i nearly burst into tears when i saw it - heal fast mate

The stage is set now for Kelly, Mick & Taj, bummer.

God speed mate!

PS

lmao at the people saying stitch it up & surf. get a fvckin' clue, ya retards!

I hope u get better parko,,,,

just a flesh wound, Parko when you get your shot you will dig deeper and take it with style

Oh Parko why couldn't this of happened before Brazil shat waves and not J-Bay mate? I hope you heal quick. Luckily the water is cold so you can wrap it up, throw a booty on and rip the livin' shat out of J-bay. I want to see you laugh at Smith's airs and blast some liens and slobs twice as high as his little wankas. You will make it to J-bay! You have to! If there is a God because your style is way too smooth to miss J-bay. Don't be a Nancy Girl!

Someone shoot the fu$%ing lepracorne. Its not fair!!

stitch it up, strap it up. you'll be fine for jbay.

Damn parko! I guess if ur gonna do it, do it good... annnnd... u did it ! I'll say a prayer! Feel better!

Karma's a bitch Parko

im always amazed that parko gets so horribly underscored. time and time again it happens. maby its cos hes so calm and relaxed as he surf?? for me? he has, hands down, the best "style" of any of the surfers on tour. long clean bottom turns. huge hacks. airs. everything. 2ft or 10ft. he goes hard. has it dailed... and it really looks like hes not trying! maby thats the problems tho???

Dammmmm...
You have to learn to stay out of trouble Joel...
Another season cut short...
Another title goes beggin...
Can someone make him a wettie made of cottin wool.
Aloha
Mike

Damn,First Dean got a bottle in da head now this?
cooli kids's got a spell on 'em jeeez

Chin up Parko!! you'll be back. it's just a set back, the title will be yours!!! YYEEOOOUUWWW!!!!!

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO PARKOOOOOOOOOOOOOO :( :( :( :(

Parko, no no no. You lose a world title because you see your kid born, you lose a world title because you were injured, now this. You have been the most impresive surfer in all conditions over the last 5 years. asp just give the dude a wt trophy

Hope you get better soon. WCT without you is no fun to watch.

Dannggg.

ahhhh... that bloody voodoo....

Oh man that's a serious bummer for Parko. He must be thinking to himself "when is something going to go my way for a change". all the best for a speedy recovery.

DS

nooooooooooooooooo

shiiiiiit parko. that sux. speedy recovery brother.

You will heal Parko, then you will win!

Mend quick Parko!!

Nooooooo