Parkinson pipped in final

Australian surfer Joel Parkinson has been narrowly defeated in the final of the Billabong Pro Mundaka in Basque country.

Despite leading for the majority of the final, Parkinson was pipped in the final 30 seconds by CJ Hobgood, as the American denied the Australian a first event win in two years.

A clearly frustrated Parkinson was making no excuses after the loss.

"He (Hobgood) got the best waves in that heat and I got the scraps," Parkinson said after being defeated 18.50 points to 15.83 in the final.

"I was holding on to a thin lead and it slipped away from me as soon as I turned around and saw that last wave coming."

Although Kelly Slater had already wrapped up a ninth world surfing title earlier in the event, Parkinson said there was still plenty to surf for against Hobgood.

"I was kind of excited," Parkinson said. "I wanted to win one. I hadn't won one in a while so I was going to try to."

"But he deserved it. He ripped this week. Sometimes you come to an event and some people just get suited to them and this event really suited him. Everything he touched turned to gold and his surfing just really flowed this week."

Billabong Pro Mundaka Quarter Final Results:

Heat 1:Joel Parkinson (Australia) 14.34 def. Adriano de Souza (Brazil) 6.17
Heat 2: Adrian Buchan (Australia) 12.83 def. Tom Whitaker (Australia) 7.40
Heat 3: C.J. Hobgood (USA) 15.34 def. Taj Burrow (Australia) 8.10
Heat 4: Luke Stedman (Australia) 13.16 def. Bede Durbidge (Australia) 10.24

Billabong Pro Mundaka Semi-Final Results:

Heat 1:Joel Parkinson (Australia) 17.80 def. Adrian Buchan (Australia) 14.50
Heat 2: C.J. Hobgood (USA) 14.66 def. Luke Stedman (Australia) 6.70

Billabong Pro Mundaka Final Results:

Final: C.J. Hobgood (USA) 18.50 def. Joel Parkinson (Australia) 15.83