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Australian surfing star Joel Parkinson insists he will be ready for the Pipeline Masters, despite hurting his back and shoulder.
The 2012 world champion was taken to hospital on Wednesday after he was injured while free surfing at Backdoor Pipe on Hawaii’s North Shore.
Event organisers said Parkinson was going to hospital for injury assessment.
Two large waves pressed him into the reef and Parkinson was in considerable pain as he was taken away by ambulance.
He was scheduled to start competition on Thursday in the Vans World Cup at Sunset Beach, the second event of Hawaii’s Triple Crown.
“I’m out of Sunset but I will be back for Pipe,” Parkinson was quoted as saying.
Parkinson was scheduled to enter the World Cup in the third round and compatriot Yadin Nichol will take his place.
The World Cup is a qualifying event for the world tour, but top surfers such as Parkinson and current world No.1 Gabriel Medina were using it to prepare for the Masters.
The last event of the Triple Crown, the Masters will decide this year’s tight title race.
Medina, Australia’s reigning world champion Mick Fanning and surfing legend Kelly Slater can all win the world title.
Slater has won 11 world crowns and Fanning has three.
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