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The only Australian world champion to participate in the world surfing tour will surf on his last event in December with Joel Parkinson after his retirement from his mate Mick Fanninig
Parkinson unveils his decision before surfing on his first run at J-Bay. Opened in South Africa on Monday evening
Parkinson said he had lost his "fire" to compete at such a level and that he knew that the time had come to abandon the tour of world.
The first time I went to J-Bay 19 years ago. I was just a kid at the time. I had just finished a contest in Reunion, I ended up in J-Bay with a toothache, but then I had my first glimpse of the wave and the pain was gone. He was six feet and perfect from Boneyards to Impossibles, I paddled through the keyhole, caught my first wave and that was all. I was gone. I lost my head. The next thing I stood there on stage holding the trophy, I do not know what had just happened, but I knew that I had found my second home. That's where it all started for me on tour, and that's why I wanted to be here at J-Bay to let you know it will be my last year on tour. The December Pipe Masters will be my last event. The fire has not been around for a while and I never want to surf without it, so it's time to pick it up somewhere else. The tour has given me so much. So many memories, so many friends, the opportunity for my children to see the world, but it is time to move on to the next chapter. This means a final round of the tour and I look forward to meeting many old friends and having some waves along the way … starting this week in J-Bay.
Fanning retired at the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach during Easter
Parkinson's latest event will be the Pipeline Masters in Hawaii in December.
"I do not have a fire anymore or want to win, I just want to surf and enjoy it," said Parkinson, 37, the second-oldest surfer on tour behind 46-year-old Kelly Slater.
Parkinson announced his decision at a place where he has special memories and where he has won in the past.
"The tour has given me so much, so many memories, so many friends, the chance for my children to see the world, but it's time to move on to the next chapter," he said. he says.
"It means one last lap of the tour and I can not wait to meet a lot of old friends and take some waves en route from this week to J-Bay."
Parkinson said that he knew earlier this year that & It was time to retire from the competition arena, but that he wanted to "let some water get under the bridge" between his retirement announcements and those of Fanning [19659003]the Cooley Kids, have been surfing against each other since their teenage years
"But it was hard at Bells Beach (the last Fanning event) to know that I would never go back there as a competitor .
"It was sad."
"I am happy to know that from now on, every time I compete, I will be able to thank all my friends, all those who accompanied me."
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