Island Escape – A Bodyboarding Challenge!
ENVISION bodyboarding.
Think about taking off on the wave of your life, pulling into its deep, hollow barrel and exiting it with a high-energy boosting aerial to complete a perfect score.
Now, think about pulling into a hollow barrel that looks almost identical to the first, only to be spat out and thrown onto a razor sharp coral reef by a three-foot lip that defies gravity.
Sounds insane doesn’t it? Well, that’s what thirty-two competitors will be up against when they take part in the 2007 Human Shark Island Challenge over the next month at Cronulla.
Bad weather has forced organisers to postpone the event over the past few days, but it is expected to resume as the predicted storms pass Sydney and leave behind ‘some gold’ pristine conditions for the challenge.
“The Island was definitely surfable last weekend, but with a cross shore wind and rain affected conditions, we thought it was best to wait for some gold,” event organiser Mark Fordham said.
Organisers are hopeful these weather conditions will allow the Pacific Ocean to dish up some of its most adrenalin-pumping surf action to be seen in recent years. In an anticipated SSE 6-8ft swell with W/WSW winds, an onslaught of southerly lows are expected to hammer the coastline later this week, providing the world-famous wave with the potential to give its’ riders a real shake.
The waiting period for the competition commenced last week after Nomad Brett Young Memorial Trials Winner Ben Gohl (Australia) and eleven other riders gained automatic entry into what is regarded as the one of the most prestigious events running for its 11th Year and carrying a $10,000 first prize.
With plenty of new fresh faces, this year’s challenge looks set to be one of the most exciting to date.
Big names from all over the world including Australia, Hawaii, US, South Africa, and Europe have made their way down under for the first major event on the International Bodyboarding Association (IBA) Men’s World Tour.
Local knowledge is sure to be an advantage for Cronulla resident riders Andrew Lester, John Showell and Dave Ballard, who have tamed the natural beast throughout most of their bodyboarding careers.
Like it or not, too much water will be pushed onto the reef for a rider to pull out the back of a wave. There is only one escape route… and that is the hole where the light is shining through at the end of the tube. Guts alone may not even be strong enough to cut this ultra break!
Story by Reece Carter. Sharks men have first loss on boards, women lose narrowly in WABL
The table topping Sutherland Sharks men’s team had its first loss on the boards in the 2007 Waratah Australian Basketball League last Saturday. Previously the dominant Sharks have only lost a game due to playing an unregistered player earlier in the competition.
Playing fourth placed Manly Warringah Sea Eagles the Sharks lost momentum in the second quarter as Manly piled on 38 points to 16. As a result the Eagles held a commanding 67 to 47 lead at half time. While the Sharks came back in the second half the margin was too great and the Eagles won the match 118 to 100. Top scorer for the Sharks was Cameron Tovey with 25.
Photo: Cameron Tovey shows his style in a recent Sharks game (Photo supplied by www.photoexcellence.com.au)
Despite loss the Sharks men still retain top spot on the ladder on 84.9% from the Parramatta Wildcats on 67%, Hills Hornets on 64% and Sea Eagles on 62%
In the women’s game the Sea Eagles jumped out to a 19 – 6 lead in the first quarter. The Sharks then matched their opponents in the next two quarters and had a strong finish in the last quarter with a dominant 19 - 6 result. Unfortunately, the last quarter was not enough and the Sharks lost by a solitary point 68 – 67. A great effort from the 11th placed Sharks against the 4th placed Eagles. Best for the Sharks were Kelly Richards on 19 and Kylie Galloway on 17.
Men: Manly Warringah Sea Eagles 118 (Rhys Carter 35, Duane Jordan 25, Matt Unicomb 22) def Sutherland Sharks 100 (Cameron Tovey 25, BJ Carter 20, Ben Conguista 14)
Women: Manly Warringah Sea Eagles 68 (Alana Mountfield 15, Jenna Bilton 10, Robyn Larcombe 8) def Sutherland Sharks 67 (Kelly Richards 19, Kylie Galloway 17, Mieke Van Dam 11) Only Sharks swim as local Premier Youth League flooded out
As might be expected, in conditions challenging even for ducks, Round 18 was washed out for most teams in the NSW Premier Youth League Soccer last weekend. However, living up to their name the Sutherland Shire Sharks were able to provide the only games of the round against Dulwich Hill at their home ground in the Shire.
The Sharks showed their watery style, winning two and drawing 2 games. The Under 13s and 16s had wins while the 15s and 18s had draws. Full results for Round 18 against Dulwich Hill at Seymour Shaw ground were:
Sharks U13 won 1 nil
Sharks U14 lost 2 – 1
Sharks U15 drew 2 all
Sharks U16 won 2 – 1
Sharks U18 drew 3 all More Stories?
For more local sports stories go to www.sportslive.com.au and click on Sutherland
If you want publicity for your sport please contact the Sportslive Moderator at YourOnlineCommunity office on 4254 0200 or to contact via email Click here-> | 
