Joel Parkinson, Backdoor casual, Hawaii

Joel Parkinson had the worst heat win of his life yesterday. Not because of scores, or performance, or judging calls, or interference or conditions. But, because of sentiment. See, Joel’s good pal Dusty Payne ripped apart his MCL at Lowers and has been bleeding World Tour points since. Dusty needed a strong finish at Pipe to solidify his spot on tour next year. But yesterday in the last heat of round three, Joel had to dispatch his friend. Dusty is now one of four men gunning for an injury wildcard (the others being Tiago Pires, Owen Wright and Micro Hall). “There were a couple waves out there that we didn’t make, but to be put in a position where you have to surf against a friend that you want on tour, and I want dusty on tour more than anything, it’s horrible,” said Joel afterwards. “I really wanted him on tour, he’s such a good talent and a good guy and a good friend. I told Dusty I wasn’t going to hassle him on any wave that I didn’t have priority for and I was even looking for waves for him when I didn’t have priority, thinking ‘maybe this one.’ I wasn’t going to just roll over though, you don’t really get many chances to win a Pipe Masters and you’ve got to have a go while you’re there.”

Not ideal. So, on a more relaxed note, we land at this lazy Backdoor session. Let us hand the mic to the sequence’s shooter, Mr Damea Dorsey. “I usually stop by the Billabong wave house in the morning to have a look at Pipe, Backdoor, and OTW,” says DD. “Taj (Burrow) and Johnny (Gannon, Taj’s trainer) are usually up and having a coffee. We sat there for a few and watched a coupla waves come in. Joel was out before the sun came up, ripping the place apart. He cruised up after this wave and hung out for a bit. It was real mellow stuff.”