Corona and surfing, sounds like a pretty spot on idea to me. Here’s the latest on 2009’s best surfer so far, Joel Parkinson, who’s out in NZ surfing for Corona. If you want to see a tasty sequence shot of the man himself click BACKDOOR

Current world number one surfer Joel Parkinson and 1999 World Champion Mark Occhilupo will get to taste what many visting surfers miss on their travels to New Zealand – a solid East Coast swell. The run of good conditions is set to continue this week. The duo will travel to either Coromandel or Bay of Plenty on Thursday May 27 and to Gisborne on Friday May 28.

Corona is bringing ‘Parko’ and ‘Occy’ to New Zealand on a promotional tour with the aim of sampling the best waves they can find in the North Island. Hitting the best surf on offer has always been the focus of the four day whirl wind trip and the swell forecasts could deliver just what the two Australians want.

A strong easterly weather pattern is currently forming out to sea from the North Island. This system will develop a solid easterly swell by mid week. Come late Thursday the winds turn to a more favourable westerly direction which should clean up the swell and hopefully provide the perfection that the surfers are looking for.

At this stage the two surfers could visit the Coromandel or Mount Maunganui this Thursday. A careful watch on the weather over the next few days will determine a more definite location.

Friday will see the two surfers fly to Gisborne where the easterly swell is forecast to provide solid swells and light offshore winds by the end of the week. New Zealand surfers and Gisborne locals Maz Quinn and Bobby Hansen will join the boys on arrival, providing valuable local knowledge and additional fireworks in the free surfing display.

As well as the free-surfing exhibition at each destination, Parko and Occy will sign autographs from the beach. Surfing website surf2surf.com will provide up to date information, exhibition times and exact locations of the Corona Surf Trips as they come to hand.