Shark Island Challenge


The Shark Island Challenge, held near Cronulla, in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, is a World Tour event in bodyboarding since the elimination of the Teahupoo Challenge 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 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

Organizers: Nathan Purcell, Mark FordhamWaiting Period: Best day in May, later changed to best day in June due to lack of swellFormat: 12 local riders vs. 12 invitees from AustraliaResults and prizes
  • * 1. Matt Percy
  • * 2. Steve Mackenzie
  • * 3. Chris Warr
  • * 4. Luke Miller
  • * 5. Nathan Purcell, Ben PlayerSponsors: Ocean and Earth / Manta Bodyboards / The Surf Travel Company / Emerald Surf City / Cronulla house boats and sea planesConditions: 1 - 1,5 meters offshore wavesFootage: Secret Weapons by Chris Stroh
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.

1998

Organizers: Nathan Purcell, Mark FordhamWaiting Period: 1 July to 1 August Format: 12 local riders vs. 12 invitees from Australia, 2 rounds eventResults and prizes
  • * 1. Steve Mackenzie
  • * 2. Matt Percy
  • * 3. Adam Smith
  • * 4. Nathan Purcell Sponsors: Ocean and Earth / Manta Bodyboards / The Surf Travel Company / Emerald Surf CityConditions:
  • * 1st round: 1 – 2 meters waves with cross winds
  • * 2nd round: 1 – 2 meters thundering tubular waves with offshore windsFootage: Rush - Shark Island Challenge by Chris Stroh
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.

1999

Organizers: Nathan Purcell, Mark FordhamWaiting Period: 11 June to 11 July Format: 12 locals vs. 12 invitees, 2 round event, six 1 hour 4 men heats, 3 best scoring waves counting each roundResults and prizes
  • * 1. Christian Riguccini
  • * 2. Nathan Purcell
  • * 3. Toby Player
  • * 4. Adam Smith
  • * 5. Ryan Hardy
  • * 6. Guilherme Tamega
  • * 7. Matt Percy
  • * 7. Warren Feinbier Sponsors: Surf Dive ‘n' Ski / Manta Bodyboards / Ocean and Earth / The Surf Travel Company / Dream Weaver Surf adventures / / Mike Perry / Peter Michaels Seafood and the Voodoo Lounge CronullaBest move: Christian Riguccini, long tube ride with a huge roll on surge.Best barrel: Matt PercyConditions: 1st round: 1 – 2 meters southeast ground swell with perfect conditionsFootage: Rush - Shark Island Challenge by Chris Stroh
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. 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. 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.

2000

Organizers: Mark Fordham, Nathan PurcellWaiting Period: 11 June to 11 July Format: 8 locals, 8 Australians, 8 internationals, 2 round event, six 1 hour 4 men heats, 3 best scoring waves counting each roundResults and prizes
  • * 1. Mike Stewart
  • * =2. Damian King
  • * =2. Ryan Hardy
  • * 4. Dave Ballard - A$1000
  • * 5. Andrew Lester - A$750
  • * 6. Steve Mackenzie - A$750
  • * 7. Adam Smith - A$500
  • * 7. Toby Player - A$500Sponsors: Surf Dive ‘n' Ski / Mike Stewart Science / The Surf Travel Company / Dreamweaver Surf adventures / / Wavecam / Mike Perry / Peter Michaels Seafood and the Voodoo Lounge CronullaBest move: Ryan Hardy – Huge Invert over whiterock Best barrel: Mike StewartBest wipeout: Nathan PurcellConditions:
  • * 1st round: 1,5 - 2,5 meters east/southeast swell offshore winds
  • * 2nd round: Small 1 - 1,5 meters wavesFootage: S.I.C - SDS, Mike Stewart - Shark Island Challenge 2000 by Chris Stroh
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.

2001

Organizers: Mark Fordham, Nathan PurcellWaiting Period: 21 June to 22 July Format: 10 locals, 8 Australians, 5 internationals, 2 round event, six 1 hour 4 men heats, 3 best scoring waves counting each roundResults and prizes
  • * 1. Damian King
  • * 2. Ryan Hardy
  • * 3. Sean Virtue
  • * 4. Dave Ballard
  • * 5. Andrew Lester
  • * 6. Jeff Hubbard
  • * 7. Steve Mackenzie
  • * 7. Toby Player Sponsors: Human / Custom X / Citizen Watches / The Surf Travel Co / Dreamweaver Surfing Adventures / Wave Cam / Wing Wetsuits / Emerald Surf CityBest move: Ryan HardyBest barrel: Simon ThorntonBest wipeout: Ryan McKinnonConditions:
  • * 1st round: 2 - 2,5 meters east with little north on the swell with light westerly wind
  • * 2nd round: 2 - 2,5+ meters east with little north on the swell Footage: The Human Shark Island Challenge 2001 by Ian Stewart.
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.

2002

Organizers: Mark Fordham, Nathan PurcellWaiting Period: 21 June to 22 July Format: 10 locals, 8 Australians, 5 internationals, 2 round event, six 1 hour 4 men heats, 3 best scoring waves counting each roundResults and prizes
  • * 1. Guilherme Tamega
  • * 2. Andrew Lester
  • * 3. Damian King
  • * 4. Jeff Hubbard
  • * 5. Alistair Taylor
  • * 6. Beau Day
  • * 7. Ben Player
  • * 8. Toby Player Sponsors: Human / Rejected Clothing / Custom X / Gola / www.fluidzone.com / The Surf Travel Company / * Best move: Kelley HuntBest barrel: Andrew LesterConditions:
  • * 1st round: 1 - 1,5+ meters with some cross-shore effect
  • * 2nd round: 1 - 1,5+ meters perfect conditionsFootage: The Human Shark Island Challenge 2002 by Ian Stewart.
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.

2003

Organizers: Mark FordhamWaiting Period: 28 June Results and prizes
  • * 1. Guilherme Tamega
  • * 2. Jeff Hubbard
  • * 3. Doug Showell
  • * 4. Damian King
  • * =5. Dave Ballard, Dave Winchester
  • * 7. Ryan McKinnon
  • * 8. Toby Player Best move: Guilherme Tamega Best barrel: Ryan McKinnonConditions:
  • * 1st round: 3–5 ft, swell was from the S/SE with perfect off-shore winds.

2004

Organizers: Mark FordhamWaiting Period:Results and prizes
  • * 1. Guilherme Tamega
  • * 2. Dave Ballard
  • * 3. Damian King
  • * 4. Josh Kirkman
  • * 5. John Showell
  • * 6. Dave Winchester
  • * 7. Andrew Lester
  • * 8. Graham Miller Best move: Guilherme Tamega Best barrel: Dave WinchesterConditions:
  • * 1st round: 4–6 ft, East swell
  • * 2nd round: 4–6 ft

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.

2006

Organizers: Mark FordhamWaiting Period: June 27 to July 31, 2006Results and prizes
  • * 1. Ryan Hardy
  • * 2. John Showell
  • * 3. Damian King
  • * 4. Jeff Hubbard Best move: Jeff Hubbard Best barrel: Damian KingConditions:
  • * 1st, 2nd round: 4–8 ft