Cool stuff when the return of the Shark Island Challenge was announced back in January, after a hiatus of at least six years. Last time the event ran was 2017 (read more here).
The waiting period has started already (on May 24th) and ends June 30th “with a possible extension if ideal conditions don’t arise”, assures the organization who is also gathering a great pack of bodyboarders for the show. Or trying.
You see, so far they have confirmed so many well known names in the business, like the current World Champion Tanner McDaniel, the G.O.A.T. Mike Stewart, Jeff Hubbard, Toby Player, Lewy Finnegan, Jared Houston, Liam Lucas, Dave Winchester, Marli Dunn, PLC, Andrew Lester, Jacob Romero, and Jase Finlay. Just to name a few as the list goes on.
Noa Deane, an Australian Pro Surfer, sponsored by Volcom, who has shown serious skills in bodyboarding (so they say), was the last addition to the invitees list. Well, we had to go back 50 posts on his Instagram account to see a photo of the Aussie shredder on a bodyboard. Post is dated December 24th 2023. Take it easy boys, it was Christmas time…
You see, we have nothing against Noa. We truly believe he is a nice guy, an underground surfer like so many boogers, and that he can even charge on the Island, but… what happened to those guys who entered the online trials, PAY FOR IT, and are still not lucky enough to enter the event?
Oh man, we’ll be seriously pissed if in the end we couldn’t make the final list of appearances. But Noa does. So easily. And why is that? Is it for media acceptance? Is it to unite the local surfing/bodyboarding community? Are we just a big one family? Is it for the buzz? Or is just plain submission?
It looks like something meaningless and nonsense when you have in hands a very limited number of invitations to make the draw. It’s like when you see a pro bodyboarder sharing surfing footage or posing with a surfboard on social media. What’s the point of that? Showing people they can surf as well?
FUCK THAT.
