The 2011 BodyboardBet Shark Island Challenge, 2nd June - 25th July. An IBA specialty event presented by RYDGES and supported by Emerald, Riptide , Paramount Concrete and Uptown Group.
The 2011 Brett Young Memorial Trials Completed
Consistent with the forecast, competitors today were blessed with 4 - 6 feet waves and offshore winds at Cronulla Point for the Brett Young Memorial Trials. Up for grabs were 4 highly sort after places in the 2011 Bodyboardbet Shark Island Challenge and the honour of being crowned the winner of the highly regarded Brett Young Memorial Trials event. The level of bodyboarding was world class with barrels, flips and rolls featuring from the first heat of the day all the way to the final.
The event winner and standout performer of the day was Joe Clarke (QLD). Joe surfed with confidence all day and never looked at risk in any of his heats today. Joe was absolutely stoked with his win and confirmation of an entry into his first Shark Island Challenge. Joe went on to say "I had a taste of some sick barrels this morning at Shark Island and used this as my motivation to secure my spot in the main event. I am stoked and excited to get some big barrels in this amazing event."
The 3 remaining finalists and qualifiers through to the main event were 2nd place Damien Martin (NSW), 3rd place Nick Ormerod (QLD) and Chase O'Leary (NSW). Damien Martin was the surprise packet of the event as he has historically focused on his free surfing, though today he looked at home in the competitive arena and thoroughly deserved his 2nd place finish with high quality all round
polished surfing. Nick O has competed in the Shark Island Challenge no less than 5 times in the past and based on his form today will be a threat again in 2011. Chase O'Leary continued his stellar comp form in 2011 with another solid result and will be entering his first Shark Island Challenge.
Other standouts today who were unlucky not to progress to the final were Jason Finlay (NSW) and Dan Worsley (South Africa). Both riders looked on track to progress with impressive surfing in their heats though just couldn't find the waves when it counted in the qualifying finals.
The waves for Saturday 4th June are looking great for the Shark Island and whilst the main event will not run, www.ibaworldtour.com will be running a webcast of the free surfing session from 8am local time.
The official 2011 Bodyboardbet Shark Island Challenge launch night will be held on Sunday 5th June at 6:00pm at Rydges Hotel in Cronulla. The heat draw will be webcast on www.ibaworldtour.com/live at 7pm. This is where the heat draw will be taking place, with the majority of the 20 competitors in attendance along with the announcement of the live betting odds through www.bodyboardbet.com Mitch Rawlins will be in attendance and this will be the venue for the NSW premier of his Hiding From Comfort Movie. We will also be showing the DVD of the historical 2001 Shark Island Challenge.
All event information will be on www.ibaworldtour.com or follow updates at www.facebook.com/ibaworldtour
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