Fluidzone Shark Island Challenge 2004 Shark Island Challenge

In: Fluidzone Shark Island Challenge by philgallagher 1 Comments Sun 6th Jun '10
Tags: Shark Island Challenge 2004 , Tamega
300028 click to enlarge
300029 click to enlarge
300030 click to enlarge
300031 click to enlarge
300032 click to enlarge
  • 300028
  • 300029
  • 300030
  • 300031
  • 300032

Nothing is ever black and white with the Island comp and 2004 was all shades of grey. The event was held over two days. The first day was 6-8ft out of the east and really heavy. The second 3-5ft with cross shore winds.

The first rounds went as per normal with an all out assault on the angry swell. Round one highlights were, Toby Player dominating the tube, Kingy in winning form after his Pipe victory a few months earlier. Tamega as always going balls out hitting some massive sections and making super deep tubes. Tamega's style was sloppy but he was getting the waves this would be some of that grey area which would tarnish the judging again. Rissole hit the reef pretty bad and was covered in blood after his heat.

Beau Day hit the reef also and injured his back and was forced to pull out of the event. First time competitor Alex Bunting pulled into one of the biggest tubes of the day. Wingy had an absolute blinder and nailed two huge waves. One a deep tube and the other a massive acid drop into a huge pit which he road cleanly onto the shoulder.

Fast forward two weeks and its 3-5ft and the second round is underway. Its smaller but the riders are getting more technical with smooth combos in the tricky conditions. Wingy busts a big backflip, Lester surfed the joint like it was a rip bowl down at the beach breaks and milked every wave to its maximum. Guys like Hubb and Tamega were in comp mode and the locals who normally would of turned their noses up at the windy conditions were getting left behind.

Eight days later the presentation is held at a local bar and as always the judges cop their fair share of abuse when the announcements are read out. Tamega is crowned Champion for the third year in a row and the Shark Island Challenge lives up to all hype with waves, carnage and dodgy judging.

1st Guilherme Tamega
2nd Dave Ballard
3rd Damian King
4th Josh Kirkman

 

Loading Comments
Loading