AUSTRALIAN Joel Parkinson says he is not joining the Aussie exodus from the world surfing tour after watching Hawaiian John John Florence become the first man to defend his word surfing crown since Kelly Slater in 2012.
Parkinson and Julian Wilson were the last Australian men left surfing at the Pipeline Masters with the pair bowing out in the quarter-finals.
As Florence went on to secure the world crown with his runner-up finish to French surfer Jeremy Flores in the final on Tuesday, Parkinson confirmed he will not be following good mates Bede Durbidge and Josh Kerr into world tour retirement.
Mick Fanning has yet to confirm his plans for 2018.
“I’m surfing on for sure,’’ Parkinson said from Hawaii. “It’s going to be a really big year next year with the wave pool and everything. I’m really excited.’’
Pipeline was the last World Tour event for both Durbidge and Kerr.
Durbidge is taking up a new role out of the water as he heads up Australia’s first Olympic surfing campaign.
Parkinson said it was unlikely he will put his hand up for this mission but would still like to be involved in some way.
“I think our team will be better served with some young, fresh legs,’’ said former world champion Parkinson.
Parkinson said Florence and Brazilian Gabriel Medina, who finish the year as surfing’s No. 1 and No. 2, were a level above their rivals at the Billabong Pipe Masters.
“John John and Gabriel are like a level above, they were amazing,’’ Parkinson said.
“They were just so calm and collect.’’
Florence secured the word crown when Medina lost his quarter-final heat against Flores.
“To win here at home, this has been my dream and this year it happened,’’ Florence said.
“It’s just been an awesome year.”