On Saturday Joel Parkinson hit the water for the first time since his terrible fin chop back in July. For the last three months he's been healing the heel, and while most people would love a few months to rest their feet, for a professional athlete it spells frustration.

So while his World Tour peers were tackling big, brown Supertubos Parko waddled down to tackle waist high Superbank. Riding a 6"6" JS he kept his turns flat and soft. Still, it was the best surf he's had in ages.

Adam Weathered got the shots.//STUART NETTLE