“Parko is still checking with his wife.” It was an innocent email from Taylor Steele but it brought a wry smile to the cube monkeys at Swellnet. The currrent world champ had iced a surf trip pending permission from his wife. The contrast was stark: pro surfing's jetsetting elite, who fly to exotic locales on a moments notice...but only after the family matriarch gives the OK.

The last transmission we had with Mick and Taylor they were en route to Bocas Del Toro, sent there on a whisper by Kelly Slater and a swell confirmation by Ben Matson. Following that succesful mission a volley of group emails were exchanged between Ben, Taylor, and Fletcher the hirsute pit boss. Where are we going next for Missing? Which places have swell? What sort of wave do we need?

And then a message thundered from a henceforth silent member of the group: “A dramatic lefthander would be optimum.”

Thus spoke Neil Ridgway, and like a divine choreographer he deigned his wish.

“We have 3 to 5 foot up the wazoo, 4 to 6 even...we need 8 to 10 foot plus and out of the box.”

The next few weeks were spent intently looking at swell charts. Calls were made for Kalbarri, southern Victoria, and Samoa but each were abandoned. Then, following Mick's 'CT schedule, Ireland and Scotland were targeted, but also abandoned due to unfavourable forecasts. The deadline was rapidly approaching.

In early November the Longwave Trough moved east of Tasmania, closely followed by a deep, well-aimed Southern Ocean low. It was a veritable beast of a system that elongated up the Tasman Sea toward Fiji, the fetch not as extensive as the Volcom swell of 2012 but it would clearly tick all of Neil's boxes. The only catch, Taylor wanted Mick to have some close company - Parko to be precise.

So Ben informed Taylor. Taylor informed Mick. Taylor also informed Parko. And then Parko informed his wife.

...who gave the OK the next day. And Mick and Parko joined Kelly, Shane, Dane, and Bruno Santos - other members of the jetsetting elite who presumably also got permission -  in Fiji where Cloudbreak was 8 - 10 foot and fitting for a finale.