Byron Bay’s Garrett Parkes has been a long time member of Quiksilver’s surf team. Lucky enough to call Byron Bay “home”, Garrett has risen rapidly from the little supergrom ‘with the white hair’ to a formidable pro-junior surfer with plenty of adventures along the way.

G-Rat’s competitive highlights include the U/16 ISA World Junior Championship, which he won in Portugal in 2007. His effort ensured Team Australia the overall gold medal in the event considered the ‘Olympics of Surfing’.

In 2009 in Maresias, Brazil, Garrett again surfed for his country and despite a disappointing individual performance (which saw Garrett suffer a broken surfboard in his quarter final) Team Australia returned victorious, keeping their reputation for domination at the event, intact.

At age 15 G-Rat starred in “Young Guns III” hitting the road with Kelly Slater, Dane Reynolds, Julian Wilson and Clay Marzo for a fast-track lesson in the tricks of his trade. Garrett earned his place amongst surfing’s elite after a testing couple of weeks on Australia’s East Coast, filming and surfin’ it out against a field of Quiksilver contenders from around the globe.

With his place in Young Guns III secure, Gaz went on to score epic waves in Bali and a rare uncrowded session at G-Land and his place in surfing’s media landscape was secured.

Fellow Byron Bay local and recently retired world tour surfer Danny Wills has watched his young protégé go from strength to strength over the years.

Dad and respected surfer/shaper David Parkes has been the biggest influence on the G-Rat’s early career.

Supported, witty and talented Parkes is in for the long ride.

If you get a chance to check out his ride, a two door white-ute that has had a few “adjustments”, make sure you get the demo!