To celebrate Joel Parkinson’s maiden world title, Billabong has created a tribute book documenting Parko’s journey from an 11 year old rug rat to 2012 ASP World Champion. This book features the high points, and low points of his career, from severing his heal in 2009 to winning the World Title in an epic showdown at Hawaii’s Pipeline.

After 12 years on tour, Parko (AUS) 31, won the Bilabong Pipe Masters in Memory of Andy Irons last month to clinch the 2012 ASP World Title. Prior to this win, Parkinson was just shy of the world title four times (2002, 2004, 2009, 2011).

Only Parko and reigning 11-time ASP World Champion Kelly Slater (USA), 40, were in contention for the world title heading into the final day. With Slater’s loss to Josh Kerr (AUS), 28, in the semi-final, Parkinson’s dream became reality. Parkinson went on to beat Kerr in the final.

On the personal front, Joel married his high school sweetheart, Monica, and they have three children: two daughters, Evie and Macy, and a son Mahli. “Family is his first love… you can say surfing is like his mistress,” notes friend and filmmaker Kendall O’Brien in the book.

Here are some photos from the book, but check it out online here: http://www.billabong.com.au/parko