Fluidzone Shark Island Challenge 2008 Shark Island Challenge

In: Fluidzone Shark Island Challenge by philgallagher 1 Comments Thu 17th Jun '10
Tags: 2008 Shark Island Challenge , Ben Player
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We are going to come straight out and say "2008 Shark Island Comp Sucked". There it's out and not I don't have to feel bad about telling the blatant truth. There is no glamour story of epic waves only crappy waves and the curse of mother nature.
Day one was small inconsistent and left all the competitors asking why the event was run that day. Riders who had battled it out in the trials with the hope of taking on some solid waves faced similar conditions to the point only the week prior.

Day two was even smaller and by the time the semi finals rolled around it was onshore and some of the worst waves ever competed in at the island. But the contest directors had set the wheels in motion and there was no going back. It was a weird scene on the hills overlooking the island as the clouds moved in and wind picked up, some passerby's were over heard saying " They must be happy there is no contest on today".
Well there was and that sums it up perfectly, no waves, crowd or raw excitement which the locals have come used to each year when the contest hits town.

The final saw Mark McCarthy and Ben Player match up once again and Ryan Hardy and local John Showell make up the remaining spots. I don't remember what happened in the final and there is no real mention of it anywhere in magazines or online. I think ben did a backflip maybe, who cares but.

When the painful 30 minute final finished it was Benny Player locking down his second win in as many years. It was a tough one for the market guys for the event trying to put a positive spin on an event with no real waves and no visual content to show people, Movement Magazine even made a huge logo and had some kids paddle it out and around the island, by far this was the event highlight for many.

1st Ben Player
2nd Ryan Hardy
3rd Mark McCarthy
4th John Showell

 

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