The past year hasn't been an easy one for Joel Parkinson.

About this time last year we learned the ankle injury he incurred in August of 2009 was far worse than even he wanted to admit.

After a stellar beginning to the 2009 season his first ASP world championship looked all but locked up. Then his huge lead vanished after the injury. As Fanning went on a tear through California and Europe Parko tried to put on a brave face and mount a defense...but to no avail. In the final event of the year he handed the championship to his buddy. That he handled it with incredible class didn't ease the pain.

Then any shot he had at redemption this year was cut short--literally--when he filleted his foot back home in Australia just as the season was getting underway.

Of course, those blows look trivial now. They pale in comparison to the one that hit Parko in the gut on November 2. The loss of his dear friend Andy Irons was something he had to deal with while back at home, removed from his family mates on tour, who (at the very least) were able to mourn together. When he got the call, Parko had to slip away from his kids so he could weep without them seeing him.

He needed his trip to Hawaii this year--probably more than ever. He knew it'd be therapeutic.

On Kauai last week he rejoined his tour mates along with thousands of Andy's friends and loved ones to say goodbye. And Hawaiians sure know how to say goodbye. In the heavenly setting of Hanalei Bay the outpouring of love was astounding. The energy is still permeating the islands, and will be for weeks if not months. Parko, a man as close to Andy as anyone, was undoubtedly filling up on the vital energy source. Emotionally, he was mending as well as can be expected.

Parko is also back in the water. His physical therapy is coming along nicely too. Not surprisingly, his return became the immediate storyline of the Reef Hawaiian Pro. What was surprising though, was that his first ride, of his first heat back in months, was a perfect 10.

Honestly, the contest was over at that point.

Granted, there was plenty of work left. But right then, right there, in that moment-- of this year-- well, you could tell there was something bigger at work. Parko was tapping into something other worldly. He looked as fresh as ever despite having just been out of the water for months.

In the dying moments of the final he seemed to acknowledge that force. Kicking out of his heat-winning wave Parko made a gesture that might have easily been mistaken for a claim, only it didn't look self congratulatory, and it certainly wasn't aimed at the judges. To me, it looked like it was directed at somebody else, somewhere else. And to me, well, it looked a lot like a thank you...

"Andy's part of the ocean forever now," Parko said on the podium.

'Nuff said.