It was the type of wave that only Joel Parkinson could have conjured. With a few minutes to go in the heat and with leader Joan Duru holding priority, Parko needed an eight-point ride.
"Joan didn't look interested and to be honest, neither did I," Parkinson said of the wave that changed the heat. "But I had no option, I had to give it a go." The wave doubled-up on the inside and the world's best reader of waves found the only solid tube of the day to claim the winning score.
Parkinson was inspired by Filipe Toledo's aggression. - WSL / Damien Poullenot
Later he elaborated that it showed a new mindset. In any situation, even seemingly hopeless ones like that, Parkinson will attack it with positive action. "I've been trying to be so enthusiastic about everything all year," the 2012 World Champion said afterwards. "And if I'm honest, this event is the one where I find it the hardest to be enthusiastic. But I'm stoked to be here, I want to be here and I want to do well. Today, that wave shows that anything is possible."
Watching Filipe's performance before mine was incredible. Just being able to witness that purely as a surf fan is amazing. I don't ever tire of it. -- Joel Parkinson
Apart from his unflinching enthusiasm, Parko is also feeding off the performances of his peers. After 15 years on tour, he's is still genuinely excited to be watching the world's greatest surfers from the best seats in the house.
"Watching Filipe's performance before mine was incredible," he said. "Just being able to witness that purely as a surf fan is amazing. I don't ever tire of it. Look, it's a long year and there is a lot of good waves to be surfed. I just want to be one of the surfers left riding them." With performances like today, that shouldn't be a problem.