Parko pulls out of J-Bay event after cutting his foot at Snapper Rocks

“I just pulled into a barrel and been taken out by the foamball, andpretty well straight away I’ve felt the board hit me,” says Joel, thecurrent world number 8. “I knew immediately it was a pretty seriouscut. I didn’t want to look at it when I came in because I knew itwouldn’t be good.”

Joel was helped up the beach to a waiting ambulanceby good friend and three-time world champion, Andy Irons (Kauai, HI)who had been surfing with him. The cut is on the underside of Joel’sright foot, just in front of his heel.Due to fly out for South Africa, the injury will not have time to healand as such Joel has made the decision to miss the Jeffreys Bay event,where he is the defending champion. “It’s one of my favourite events,so I’m obviously disappointed that I won’t be there this year. Afterhaving such a long break I was really looking forward to competingagain and really looking forward to just surfing J-Bay.”

While Joelwill miss J-Bay, there is a six-week break until the following event,the Billabong Pro in Tahiti starting on August 23, and there are nodoubts that he’ll be ready for it. “In a way I was lucky it happenednow and not later in the year when the events are all back-to-back. Atleast I have the time now to get it right and get ready for Tahiti.”The 2010 Billabong Pro J-Bay is proudly supported by Eastern CapeTourism, Virgin Atlantic, Monster Energy, Vida e Caffe, Corona andTavcor.