Joel Parkinson has won the GoPro Challenge Europe edition, which scores him a cool $10k, and some cinematic distinction. While it was his first-ever submission to the contest-within-a-contest, his approach stood out. A panel of five judges -- two from GoPro and three from the World Surf League -- looked at 11 videos, but it was Parko's tube from the banks of Hossegor that had that certain je ne sais quoi.
Joel Parkinson doesn't mind the more cramped rooms of Europe, so long as they have a nice view, like this one in Hossegor.
The GoPro Challenge asks competing World Surf League (WSL) athletes to submit their own GoPro videos from the competition venue and surrounding areas, with clips accepted starting two days prior to the contest window and no later than the conclusion of the event.
The winning video was selected by a panel of five judges -- three from the WSL staff and two from GoPro -- based on cinematography, degree of difficulty of shooting, perspective and overall beauty and lighting. Each requirement held equal weight.
Parko vs. Les Culs Nus. - WSL / Poullenot/Aquashot
Parkinson just wrapped the European leg of the tour, which included the Quiksilver Pro France and the MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal. He finished in 25th place in France and ninth in Portugal -- not his best results, but he was philosophical about how things went.
"They called it off right after my heat," he said of his Round Five loss. "It's hard because the conditions change so quick. It looked like there were some waves but by the time we got out, you couldn't find anything. The hardest thing was watching it that afternoon and it was pumping. ...But you know, you take what's in front of you."
Despite less-than-stellar results in the Europe contests, Parkinson was sanguine about how things went. Plus, winning the GoPro Challenge was a coup in and of itself. - WSL / Damien Poullenot
And as for his GoPro success? Parko's pleased with his first-timer's win -- but isn't going to quit his day job.
The Australian tour veteran described his cinematic future as "minimal to none. I don't see myself as a camera guy but I do it often enough. More at home. Kirra and a lot of places that we have, there's a lot of long, perfect barrels."
Catch Parkinson competing next at the QS10,000 Vans World Cup at Sunset Beach, Oahu, followed by the Billabong Pipe Masters, December 8 - 20.
Parko Wins GoPro Challenge, Europe Edition
Anna Dimond
Joel Parkinson has won the GoPro Challenge Europe edition, which scores him a cool $10k, and some cinematic distinction. While it was his first-ever submission to the contest-within-a-contest, his approach stood out. A panel of five judges -- two from GoPro and three from the World Surf League -- looked at 11 videos, but it was Parko's tube from the banks of Hossegor that had that certain je ne sais quoi.
The GoPro Challenge asks competing World Surf League (WSL) athletes to submit their own GoPro videos from the competition venue and surrounding areas, with clips accepted starting two days prior to the contest window and no later than the conclusion of the event.
The winning video was selected by a panel of five judges -- three from the WSL staff and two from GoPro -- based on cinematography, degree of difficulty of shooting, perspective and overall beauty and lighting. Each requirement held equal weight.
Parkinson just wrapped the European leg of the tour, which included the Quiksilver Pro France and the MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal. He finished in 25th place in France and ninth in Portugal -- not his best results, but he was philosophical about how things went.
"They called it off right after my heat," he said of his Round Five loss. "It's hard because the conditions change so quick. It looked like there were some waves but by the time we got out, you couldn't find anything. The hardest thing was watching it that afternoon and it was pumping. ...But you know, you take what's in front of you."
And as for his GoPro success? Parko's pleased with his first-timer's win -- but isn't going to quit his day job.
The Australian tour veteran described his cinematic future as "minimal to none. I don't see myself as a camera guy but I do it often enough. More at home. Kirra and a lot of places that we have, there's a lot of long, perfect barrels."
Catch Parkinson competing next at the QS10,000 Vans World Cup at Sunset Beach, Oahu, followed by the Billabong Pipe Masters, December 8 - 20.
Joel Parkinson
Featuring Yago Dora, Filipe Toledo, Caio Ibelli, Ian Gouveia, Kelly Slater, John John Florence, Gabriel Medina, Julian Wilson, Adriano de
Paul Fisher, Kelly Slater, Stephanie Gilmore, Mick Fanning, Chelsea Hedges, Joel Parkinson, Mark Occhilupo, and Dean Morrison takeover
Icons of surfing take the Bonsoy Gold Coast Pro by storm, celebrating Kelly Slater in a World Champ's Super Heat. A lineup that compiled
Kelly Slater 11-time World Champion claimed the 2013 Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast presented by Land Rover in firing three-to-five foot barrels
All the elements came together on the 4th and 5th of July for some magic sessions at Kirra, on the Gold Coast.
MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal
The Jeep Leader talks with Pete Mel following his huge Quarterfinal win over Julian Wilson in pumping surf.
Florence's lead sponsor pays tribute to their star team rider and his first World Championship.
Inspired by John Florence's historic World Title win, the 11x Champ wants to put a solid season together in 2017.
A drone's-eye view of the world's best surfers taking on the unruly barrels of Supertubos.
Go deep behind the scenes of the MEO Rip Curl Pro.