#TheHowieGames |Australian surfing star and 2012 world champion Joel Parkinson announced earlier this year that he will retire at the end of the WSL season. A 17-year veteran of the Championship Tour his style and grace on the board will be missed. Joel's journey to the top is a story of hanging in there when many would have given up. Four times Joel was runner-up in the World Title race. Four times his dream was crushed. Four times he watched someone else lift up the trophy. However, in 2012 Joel did fulfil his dream and it's fair to say that he is continuing to live it.