Come climb giraffes in Indonesia…
Once, more than a dozen years ago now, little Mitch Parkinson was hailed on the cover of a magazine as “the best ten-year-old surfer in the world.”
Where did the blond child with the vacant, excited mad look and wolfish grin go? Was potential fulfilled etc?
Like many of the preternaturally talented, Mitch Parkinson, cuz of nasty ol Joel who is still sore ’cause we broke the rumour that his sponsor was toying with the idea of cutting him, found it all a little too easy. He won a few WQS events and so on, but it ain’t nothing like the thrill he gets when he packs his Superman pyjamas and gets to sleep on dirty mattresses in Indo chasing once-a-season swells.
Empty tubs, cabanas, pagodas, whatever you want to call ’em, he likes and hunts.
Here, Mitch, stands up in a few Sumatran cots and bangs his rattle.
Recommended.
Starbuck was my grandmothers last name.
I hate the company for stealing it and ruining it
I love how the surf media ducks all the elephant in the room shit that goes on for fear of not being on JS and Billabongs Christmas list. Do you remember when Mitch rode for both? Pretty weird aint it? Considering his uncle owns a slice of JS? Dude got dropped like a bad habit. He’s know for being a cunt out at Snapper, but i’d argue its impossible to surf the joint and not be a cunt. Soooo…..what gives?
the poor boy has a very rough dial. Even his mother wouldn’t sponsor him
I spoke to a bloke a few years ago who had been coaching Australian Surfers and Teams since the 80s and during the conversation he implied that if the funding was more evenly distributed there was no reason why Australia couldn’t still have between 15 and 20 Surfers still to this day on the CT Tour .
Nah. Every second tradie from WA can pack an Indo barrel and do a fly-away off the end section. The CT surfer would stick the air and would do a turn between barrel sections rather than a fade. Not saying he not surfing good, just saying he ain’t no Jesse Mendez
God love Jesse and his Steve Bradbury Triple Crown …
How so?
Or is it like Joel fuckwitson winning the title with no wins?
He won a little CT at Pipe after Kerrrrrzy and a dormant North Pacific said No to Smelly Skaters Dirty Dozen ….. ?
He’d allready wrapped it
He won without a win
Not fake news
Would you prefer to remember his 2009 performance when he won 3 events Snapper , Bells and J Bay before injuring himself and losing to Gavin Gillette at Pipe handing the title to Mick ?
Tough shit
Just take it easy on my giraffe like step paisano or I’ll rip ya bloody arms off.
Shit how did that pop into my head?
Possibly you were dreaming of this little girl from Wollongong the Brave ?
https://m.youtube.com/watch…
i haven’t seen this for years. moves me to tears. thank you james bickerton, thank you.
It was totally irreverent and fun . Aunty Jack , Norman Gunston …….
Totally I agree. I watched R Cal today from close up absolutely decimate the lineup on some good sized bombs. Comparing his surfing to Jnr Parko would be like chalk and cheese.
For the past two years when the tour comes to Snapper.. Mini Parko gives them all a schooling.
So he should though – he grew up there.
funding schmunding, what pro surfing needs is broken families.
For some reason this reminds me of a scene from David Williamson’s Emerald City, where the lead character , a playwright , has his wife kick his writing in the guts when she informs him that his work could never be as powerful as that of the female , Indigenous writer because he had not suffered enough … ?
For those future pros who are unlucky enough to come from happy families there is a possibility to bring into germination the seeds of the Oedipus Complex ?
actually it was nick carroll who first introduced me to that idea of broken families producing great surfers. i gather he’s thought and written about it a fair bit.
His some footage of Nick ( not really ) saving lives at Newport ( not really looks more like Manly )
https://youtu.be/wECPOrE_wqo
What was his suggestion for improving things? How exactly would he choose to better distribute the pie if he had the chance – via age / location / non sponsored surfers / talent over comp wins?
He didn’t go into details . It was not an interview just a friendly chat in a mate’s backyard (a former pro surfer who worked with the coach throughout the 80s) while he was in Sydney to pick up his daughter .
Coolio. I wish more of these people would put their thoughts into the discussion zone. It would be nice to hear some other opinions than the status quo press releases that surfing seems to live on.
There are at least 5 guys makin coin on tour that he would run rings around, at the very least, one of those rings would be style and being watchable for the audience.
How can Aus surfing promote and push to have Jacob Wilcox sit at the big table and him have no support?
Just like they kept looking past Wade cause he wasnt Oz version of Kolohe Igarashi.
He needs to be more confected to attract a sponsor, being a “good bloke” just isn’t enough in 2019. I’m not sure which Village Person would work best for Mitch, perhaps the ‘cowboy’.
://uploads.disquscdn.com/image…
Or maybe something So ASIA So NOW so OLYMPIC so(y) SAUCE(y)
THE TOKYO SHOCK BOYS
https://m.youtube.com/watch…
Ha, i remember going and seeing these guys.
I preferred the Jim Rose circus better at the time, but still good.
Laughter is the best medicine . Take lots of it …laughter that is .
If the WSL wants to save Australian competitive surfing then it must place height restrictions on all competitors. If we set the minimum height at 5’11” that will disqualify the entire Brazilian contingent. It’s not racist either cos it will disqualify Ace Buchan. It’s a win win for everybody. Give the little pricks their own flea tour to go out after the conditions turn too shit for the womens.
Also stop me ever having to worry about possibly watching Keanu Asing again.
2 birds, 1 stone.
Under 5’11” is a dealbreaker for, well anything really. Bunch o Fucken Napoleon dynamites
We are the robots ……
https://m.youtube.com/watch…
They modeled that clip from my loveless marriage. Cold enough to freeze a waterbed.
I hope for your sake it’s over and you’ve moved on to warmer climes .
Treading the boards of separation now.
With kids, i wouldnt wish it on anyone. Nothing in it is worse than knowing your kids will take away baggage from witnessing their own parents marriage.
Ya gotta keep moving though and hope when they are older they understand it.
It still beats the alternative of being with someone you dont have any feeling for.
I hope one day again i will be punchin air.
Good luck mate .
Cheers JB
I’m a child of divorce and I’m fuked up bro!
But it’s standard now so whatevs
Holy fuck, now im REALLY REALLY worried about my kids. Haha.
Cheers Bex.
would it help to know that WPS’s parents are still together?
I’ll take whatever i can, so yes.
Just be there for your kids as much as you can. Been there/done that. It gets better and you’ll likely be an even better father when you get free from a situation that is broken. I am not blowing sunshine up your ass, it’s gonna be rough ride while things change and divorce has effects on everybody, but so does watching mom and dad slog through a shit marriage. If you stay strong things can be far better for you and your kids than they are now. Also, watch out for those chemical crutches we all lean on from time to time, that can get seriously out of control fast (ask me how I know). Best of luck to you and your kids.
Good advice appreciated.
Having a job that means travelling, earning far more money, to help your family, actually ends up helping nobody. Nil sum game.
Common i know.
Manipulative, poisonous mother in laws who see a pilot light size flame and spray it with fuel while your away working are not on the whole helpful I’ve found!
Cheers C4.
You just summed up about 60% of my story with your story.
Cheers Nicky
I’ve just hit punching air stage… The air still punches back at times but the blows are softening. Good luck!
Good to know, cheers Neg.
Jacob is articulate
could he be being groomed to replace Ace as the tours “ideas man”
I am sorry to hear that Parko might be parting ways with the Bandidos. When did you break this news and why wasn’t I personally informed?
https://beachgrit.com/2018/…
I think the comment bogan is a language as natural as human breath is what probably annoyed him more.
I have heard Parko can speak English as well as bogan so perhaps he can work for Sally Fitz, if she wins the woman’s tour, he can go up on stage and translate her acceptance speech.
more than the bit about his squeaky voice?
Commiserations Wigs. Daresay a Cooly Bandidos retirement plan awaits tho, so all good 👍🏽