Parkinson, a local favourite at Snapper Rocks, is embarking on his 12th season on the World Tour and believes the depth this year is extraordinary.

“2012 looks really good with the new faces,” he said. “It seems the real cream of the crop is rising out of the ’QS at the moment with people like Kolohe Andino coming through which will be awesome. I can’t wait to see how he goes and then you’ve got your Gabriels (Medina) so it should be a really exciting year.

“I think they will all live up to the hype. The way the Tour is there are a lot of events in really good waves so I think one of ! the scariest blokes will be John John (Florence).”

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And of course there is 11-time World Champion Kelly Slater showing no signs of slowing down.

“He’s a freak, he’s like ET,” Parkinson said. “He’s unbelievable and just an amazing human so in tune with his body and so in tune with everything around him. I think if he had been talented in any other sport he would have won 11 world titles in that as well.”

Despite his veteran status and a pack of eager young rookies attempting to chase him down, Parkinson is feeling as refreshed as he ever has heading into the traditional season opener at the pointbreak of Snapper Rocks.

He finished strongly last year with two seconds and a fifth and believes a more relaxed approach was the key to his end-of-year success.

“At the end of last year I just enjoyed myself and enjoyed everything about the Tour,” Parkinson said. “F! or the last few years I’ve been going so hard, five or six days a week with a full-on regime living and breathing training and getting fit.

“I’m still training, doing two or three days here and there, but I’m just more focussed on enjoying my surfing. I feel if I’m enjoying my surfing and I’m enjoying everything about competition then I’ll probably have a lot more longevity and better results.”

It’s not just his body that’s feeling refreshed, Parkinson has picked up a new quiver from his shaper JS Industries and couldn’t be happier with a promising swell forecast for the start of the event.

“It is such a high performance wave and we’re lucky it suits everyone. There’s no-one who can’t surf well out there so everyone starts the year equally,” Parkinson said.

“I’ve picked a few new boards up and probably been through about 10! out of the 12. I’m down to about four really good gems that I co! uld easily start the year with, which I’m pretty happy about. Now we’re just hoping for some waves at Snapper.”