Fluidzone Shark Island Challenge Adam Wingnut Smith - know your Competitors

In: Fluidzone Shark Island Challenge by philgallagher 3 Comments Mon 21st Jun '10
Tags: Adam Wingnut Smith , Shark Island Challenge , Human Shoes , Matt Percy , Ross Hawke , Mitch Rawlins
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Adam Wingnut Smith is one the most recognisable faces in the ever changing Shark Island lineup. Wingnut has locked into more caves over the shallow reef at his beloved Shark Island than any other competitors in this years challenge. This being his 7th challenge the larger than life character is looking to up his previous best result of a 3rd to prove once and for all his dominate tube skills.

In the early 90's Wingnut hung with the best in the sport and picked up the skills needed to become one of the best riders Australia has ever produced. Wingo says that " Matt Percy, Doug Robson and Ross Hawke we all the guys to look up to when I was a grommet. They ripped it and I was lucky to learn from the best".

These days Wingnut is a respected as a hero and icon to many of the other competitors who he will surf against this year. The rolls have been reversed and if perfect spitting solid tubes are on offer, this local legend will be a dominate force to deal with.

Often seen in the local area on all types of craft Wingnut enjoys training for this years challenge by board paddling, jogging, surfing on his surfboard and bodyboard and throw in a little kick boxing for the extra amp up.

Wingnut is presented by Human Shoes, a company which has long been associated with the competition and for them to put for a local legend is a huge pat on the back from us. Interesting also is the fact Mitch Rawlins has made some brand new custom boards for Wingnut to ride in the actual event. I asked Mitch the reasons behind this and the answer was so awesome I had to include it in Wingnut's introduction.

 
Adam smith or wingnut as he is mostly referred to was my hero, he was the young guy on the rise before there was even young guys he was that good.
 
I remember the day my dad took me into Beach St surf shop in Warilla on the N.S.W south coast to go and get my first real board. I new exactly which board I wanted, the Wingnut model with the gator decking  and blue slick.
 
after handing over the money that I had earned from picking up  the frons from our Norfolk pine tree in the back yard  I new it was all worth it.
 
Than something bad happened as I was ripping the plastic off the board careful not to rip the poster of course I triped over the gutter landing flat on the board on a cobble filled pavement Scratching the slick and cutting my knee open. My cut knee didn't bother me but the scratchers on the bottom of the board did.  I tried to shake it off but I felt like I had ruined my new board.
 
I still have the board to this day no other board I have ever owned has ever had the same treatment that I gave this board I will keep it forever.
 
As the years went by I was picked up by manta and eventually I was on a trip with wingnut to Japan for a few contest and promo's everyone in Japan loved wingnut they absolutely idolized him. I didn't get to see him surf that much as the waves were small and wingnut had too many friends over there that wanted to share a beer with him. It was just good to have him on the trip.
 
I still think wingnut had one of the best styles of any generation past and present and was one of the most talented bodyboarders ever and it would have been scary if he decided to chase it more.
 
Wingnut is now riding one of my boards and I will continue to flow him boards as long as he likes. I believe you have to look after the guys that have come before you it give the sport more depth.

Mitch Rawlins

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