Parko Wins Jeffreys Bay And Bells Events Wearing New High-tech Knee Pad

Irvine, CA. - Billabong wetsuits has released the new Platinum X wetsuit which features a kneepad which brings the level of comfort and performance up a notch in the continuing quest for excellence, and Joel Parkinson couldn't be happier with the results - he won his 3rd ASP event wearing it.

Rather than get all tied up in the science behind PFRE, Parko simply says, "that kneepad is Bulls**t! It just feels like your knee is stabilized, but totally flexible; like the confidence you have when you're on a magic board. I'll be taking the Platinum X with me to Trestles and Europe for sure."

PFRE is the short for Proprioceptive Feedback Riding Enhancement, which improves knee comfort through enhanced sensory feedback by providing compression and a better fit about the knee. (Imagine that, a wetsuit that may actually improve your surfing rather than hinder it.) PFRE Technology has been developed and tested over the last two years in partnership with the sports medicine specialists of Core Orthopedic Medical Center Encinitas, CA.

"With the Platinum X our goal was to add another level into the performance of the suit," says Hub Hubbard, the Design Director for Billabong Wetsuits. "In addition to being lighter, warmer and more flexible, our patented PFRE technology opens up a whole other dimension of high-performance. The term Proprioception is kind of obscure, but you've definitely seen it before in record breaking swim suits, shoulder taping on gold medal volley ball players, sports braces. We're still working closely with Core Orthopaedic to expand PFRE into other areas of Billabong Wetsuits."

The new suits will be available at retail July 25th in the select surf shops.

Luke Egan, former # 2 in the world who is now helping coach Parko in his bid for his first world title says "I reckons it's the most important thing to happen to wetsuits in 10 years."