Aussie surfer Joel Parkinson is the $3.50 favourite with online bookmaker sportsbet.com.au to take out the inaugural Australian Open of Surfing at Manly Beach.

Parkinson, however, is tipped to encounter tough competition from countrymen Taj Burrow, who is next in the market at $4.00, South African Jordy Smith ($5.00) and another Australian in Josh Kerr ($7.00).

“We’ve got Parko as favourite but there isn’t much between him and the next three or four contenders in the market so it will be interesting to see what way the punters go,” sportsbet.com.au’s Ben Hawes said.

Market courtesy of sportsbet.com.au
2012 Australian Open of Surfing
$3.50 Joel Parkinson
$4.00 Taj Burrow
$5.00 Jordy Smith

$7.00 Josh Kerr

$15 Matt Wilkinson

$17 Brett Simpson

$21 Kolohe Andino

$26 Ace Buchanan, Adam Melling