The HUMAN Cronulla Shark Island Challenge

The first round of the Human Cronulla Shark Island Challenge ran today in 4ft conditions, winds were offshore for most of the day with the wind tending southerly for the remaining few heats. All 8 heats were conducted with the standard elimination format, eliminating half of the International field straight up, with only the top two positions progressing through to the quarter finals.
 
Spectators enjoyed a classic Sydney’s winters’ day, sunny skies and constant offshore winds, a vast change as to what Sydney has experienced in the past week with raging sea’s and cyclonic winds. The forecasted swell just hung in producing some testing conditions for the 32 riders in the main event.
 
Stands out during the day were, Cronulla local’s John Showell, Dave Ballard, Hawaiian’s Jeff Hubbard (current world champion), Dave Hubbard and 9 x World Champion Mike Stewart, Sydney’s Northern Beaches Dave Winchester and 2005 world champ Ben Player, Toby Player, Dallas Singer, South African Mark McCarthy, Brad Jackson, Michael Novy, French-man Pierre Costes, Queenslander Nick Ormerod, Port Macquarie’s 2 x World Champion Damian King and Sam Bennett who all will progress to the quarter finals come next contestable day.
 
Defending Champion Ryan Hardy withdrew from the event due to illness; his position was filled by Magno Oliveira who came third in his heat.
 
Portugal’s Hugo Pinheiro also missed his heat with Michael Honeybone taking his spot. Honeybone surfed strong only to be beaten at the post by Nick Ormerod who took second place.
 
Another shock exit from the event was Local Alex Leon. Leon’s position was taken by Sydney Northern beaches Ewan Donnachie. Donnachie showed good but came third behind Hawaiian Dave Hubbard.
 
The 2007 Heat Draw goes as follows.
 
Heat 1
  Name Seed Vest
1 John SHOWELL (Aus) (5) Red
3 Michael HONEYBONE (Aus)   White
4 Ben GOHL (AUS) (trialist) (21) Yellow
2 Nick ORMEROD (Aus) (trialist) (28) Black

Heat 2
  Name Seed Vest
1 Damian KING (Aus) (4) Red
4 Mitch RAWLINS (Aus) (13) White
3 Glen THURSTON(Aus) (sponsor wildcard) (20) Yellow
2 Mark McCARTHY (Sth Africa) (trialist) (29) Black

Heat 3
  Name Seed Vest
3 Alex BUNTING (Aus) (8) Red
4 Amaury LAVERHNE (ReunionIsland) (9) White
2 Sam BENNETT (Aus) (trialist) (24) Yellow
1 Pierre – Luis COSTES (France) (trialist) (25) Black

Heat 4
  Name Seed Vest
 1 Jeff HUBBARD (Hawaii) (1) Red
3 Ewan DONNACHIE(Aus)   White
2 Dave HUBBARD (Hawaii) (Int’l wildcard) (17) Yellow
4 Gustao ENTRUDO (Port) (trialist) (32) Black

Heat 5
  Name Seed Vest
3 Magno OLIVEIRA(Bra)   Red
4 Thomas ROBINSON(Aus) (15) White
1 Dave BALLARD (Aus) (local wildcard) (18) Yellow
2 Michael NOVY (Aus) (trialist) (31) Black

Heat 6
  Name Seed Vest
1 Ben PLAYER (Aus) (7) Red
3 Yeray MARTINEZ (Canaries) (10) White
4 Laury GRENIER(ReunionIsland) (trialist) (23) Yellow
2 Brad JACKSON (Aus) (trialist) (26) Black

Heat 7
  Name Seed Vest
1 Dave WINCHESTER(Aus) (3) Red
2 Dallas SINGER (Aus) (14) White
3 Adam LUEHMAN(Aus)(sponsor wildcard) (19) Yellow
4 Paulo BARCELLOS(Brazil) (trialist) (30) Black

Heat 8
  Name Seed Vest
1 Mike STEWART (Hawaii) (6) Red
3 Andrew LESTER (Aus) (11) White
2 Toby PLAYER (Aus) (trialist) (22) Yellow
4 Shaun PETERSEN(Aus) (trialist) (27) Black

The HumanCronullaSharkIsland Challenge (June 15th – July 15th)
This event will take competitors to Australia’s most premier bodyboarding location, SharkIsland, known for its big barrels and heavy wipe outs.

More photos avilable at http://www.biarmsdigital.com