Gossip page 3

Human Cronulla Shark Island Challenge

July 1^st – 20^th

Cronulla. NSW.

Friday 11^th July 2008

Ben Player Wins -Final Day Photos

1st Ben Player (Aus)

2nd..Ryan Hardy (Aus)

3rd...Mark McCarthy (South Africa)

4th John Showell (Cronulla, Aus)

Equal 5th Jonathan Vega (Canary Islands) and Max Arent (AUS)

Equal seventh was Mike Stewart (Hawaii) & Oliver Hererra (Canary Islands)

Ryan Hardy

Mike Stewart

Day 2 looms…

..above Rissole slotted from Day1..

The final day of the Human Shark Island Challenge looks like being contested this weekend with organizers shooting for a 1pm start on Saturday.

“There looks like potential for Saturday” said Terry McKenna, contest director and General manager of the International Bodyboard Association.

“The 20 day window that we have for the event looks like it won’t dish up anything significant next week so we will take what’s on offer with this next swell”

“It would have been nice to get some massive swells during this period but you just have to deal with whatever Mother Nature throws your way. In comparison to the other IBA World Tour events the conditions are still awesome and highly contestable”

Swellnet forecaster Ben Matson says that a new southerly swell is expected to arrive on Saturday, originating from a low currently developing east of Tasmania.

"It's been a productive weather system for the southern states over the last few days, we've got a storm force wind warning out for Victorian and Tasmanian coasts, and a wave buoy off Tasmania's West Coast is currently recording average wave heights of nine metres. Unfortunately, all of this activity has so far been located outside of Sydney's swell window, but I'm hoping that a strong south-westerly airstream developing east of Tasmania this morning will generate a new southerly swell for the New South Wales coast.”

Matson says that there are signs that we may see additional weather systems developing in the Tasman Sea next week, but he’s not confident that they will generate quality waves for Shark Island. "The computer models we use to forecast long term swell patterns are indicating a few minor sources of east and southeast swell next week, but the broad scale weather patterns are not indicative of any major size across Sydney beaches. So even though Saturday's southerly swell won't be huge, it currently offers the greatest swell potential before the end of the waiting period on July 20^th."

"Conditions are looking great on Saturday, with early light offshore winds tending variable in the afternoon, plenty of sunshine, and a slightly inconsistent but fun south swell somewhere between three and four feet", Matson said. “High tide’s around 4pm on Saturday, so we won’t be able to surf until the afternoon, probably just after 1pm”.

The quarterfinals, semis & finals will be staged and we expect a big crowd to line the point for what should be a great day. The event is the third round of twelve on the 2008 IBA World Tour

Stay tuned to the official webcast page at www.ibatour.com/webcast

More info at ww.ibaaustralasia.com & www.ibatour.com

Contact IBA/BBA General Manager Terry McKenna terry@ibatour.com or terry@bodyboardingaustralasia.com

Call / SMS 0401023661 for live updates & interview

SIC Round 1 Held Today...Big Moves and Deep Sucking Pits

Round 1 was held today in 4ft waves with the occasionally bigger sets..Conditions looked bumpy early but as the first heat hit the water the waves cleaned up and the action started. Wild card Dave Ballard pulled the pin from the first heat after seeing the waves and went to work but it was a hasty move as the conditions were very contestable and improved with the advancing tide. Heat 1 saw some deep pits and ramping sections on offer.Tamega was on his usual wave mission and advanced comfortably. In heat 2 Mark McCarthy from South Africa threw some big moves while Jonathon Vega from Spain also impressed both advancing at the expense of Hubb and Brad Hughes.. Heat 3 saw Amaury and Olivier Herrera both win through in a tight one .Heat 4 Ryan Hardy was blitzing and looking very determined. Pulling a huge air over a dry section.Pierre was reckless as well with a nice reverse air on a nuts section. Heat 5 Local favorite Johnny Showell was the man to beat from the start of the heat pulling into a sick barrel and continued to find the deepest tubes in the heat. He comfortably won the heat and was one of the standout performers of the day.Max Arnt also made it through.Heat 6 was a tussle between Mike Stewart and Mitch Rawlins with both advancing. Mike picked up one of the best barrels of the day but it was Mitch who won the heat finding some deep pockets..Heat 7 looked like a two way tussle between BP and local boy Christian Ricco. who showed his local edge finding the deep ones and making it out. Last heat of the day saw Dallas Singer win the heat and Magno Olivera busting big moves to advance comfortable....

Official report to come ....pic above of John Showell. For more info http://www.ibatour.com/webcast

Who's left

Aussies..7

2 x Brazil

1 x USA

1 x South African

2 x Canaries

1 x Reunion

1x Spain

1x France