Shark Island Challenge Explained

The Shark Island Challenge (SIC), held near Cronulla, in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, is the most celebrated World Tour event in bodyboarding since the elimination of the Teahupoo Challenge (Teahupoo) from the world bodyboarding tour.

History

The Shark Island Challenge first started in 1997, and was a very informal and local event organized by Nathan Purcell and Mark Fordham. The championship would get increasing attention in the following years and was promoted to an international World Tour event sanctioned by the International Bodyboarding Association (IBA) in 2002, eventually turning out to be the premiere event of the tour when the Teahuppo Challenge was eliminated due to lack of financial sponsoring.

Results and conditions

1997

As the first Shark Island Challenge it was a very informal competition. Comments from the riders gives the notion that it was more like free-surfing. It could be argued that the low money prize and the fact that it did not scored points for the World Tour contributed to this relaxed feeling toward the competition in this year.[1]

1998

The second incarnation of the SIC showed bodyboarding legend Mike Stewart riding like no other. This time again the competition was on a relaxed mood, and despite the Hawaiian efforts the locals dominated the heats.[2]

1999

This year a promising and very anticipated swell for the beginning of June failed to show up and the competition had to be put on hold. Many stand-out invitees had to drop the contest due to previous scheduled trips (Mike Stewart, Spencer Skipper, Jeff Hubbard and Andre Botha). On Monday the 5th of July, with only six days left in the window, an unexpected 4 – 6 foot swell created perfect conditions for the Island. This was so unexpected that some prominent riders missed their heats (Steve Mackenzie, Paul Barnard and Damian King). The Island didn't break again with good condition to the end of the waiting period and the final results were taken from the first round scores. Brazilian Guilherme Tamega surfed Shark Island for the first time during the only day of competition.[3]

2000

With huge, very dangerous conditions on the first round, bodyboarding legend Mike Stewart dominated the competition, by maintaining a good average scoring on the second round small conditions he took the first place on this year's SIC. The locals, although yet a driving force in the competition, started to be replaced by international top bodyboarders on the top 10.[4]

2001

This year presented the heaviest wave conditions for a SIC ever. With former champion Mike Stewart pulling out of the competition due to family commitments, the stage was clear for the other performers. South African Alistair Taylor (bodyboarder) had to go to the hospital to check his injuries after receiving one of the worst wipeouts ever seen at Shark Island. International top bodyboarders dominated the competition with to be two-times world champion Damian King taking the lead.[5]

2002

This was the first year that the Shark Island Challenge was run as an International sanctioned event of the World Tour. It was the first time Guilherme Tamega went to win the title, a feat he would repeat in the following two years to become the only person ever to win two or three consecutive SIC titles. He would eventually win his sixth world title that year.[6]

2003

2004

2005

The event did not conclude due to lack of surfing conditions. On the 26th day of the waiting period, with only 2 days left to its conclusion, the event was canceled in the quarter-finals with no swell forecast for the following days. The 16 competitors that reached the quarter-finals shared the A$50,000 prize.[9]

2006

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Cronulla Shark Island Challenge 1997 . 2005-10-22 .
  2. Web site: Cronulla Shark Island Challenge 1998 . 2005-10-22 .
  3. Web site: Cronulla Shark Island Challenge 1999 . 2005-10-22 .
  4. Web site: Cronulla Shark Island Challenge 2000 . 2005-10-22 .
  5. Web site: Cronulla Shark Island Challenge 2001 . 2005-10-22 .
  6. Web site: Cronulla Shark Island Challenge 2002 . 2005-10-29 .
  7. Web site: Cronulla Shark Island Challenge 2003 . 2006-09-27 .
  8. Web site: Cronulla Shark Island Challenge 2004 . 2007-03-14 .
  9. Web site: Cronulla Shark Island Challenge 2005 . 2007-03-14 .
  10. Web site: Cronulla Shark Island Challenge 2006 . 2007-03-14 .
  11. Web site: Ryan Hardy wins the CSIC 2006 . 2007-03-14 .

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