Yeah Mitch ! Massive congrats ! A well deserved win !

The 2012 NMD Shark Island Challenge was run and won today in wild 2 meter waves at the notorious Shark Island break in the south of Sydney.

20 of the World best Bodyboarders were invited to compete in this International Bodyboarding Association (IBA) Specialty event that has a 3 month waiting period and 1 day of frantic competition.

Mitch Rawlins (QLD) dominated the competition from the first heat of the day and looked like the man to beat. Other standouts in the early rounds included Jacob Romero from Hawaii, Jason Finlay (NSW) and Damian King (NSW).

The 4 man final was a memorable one with Mitch Rawlins exchanging waves with other finalists Ewan Donnachie (NSW), Jason Finlay (NSW) and Damian King (NSW). It was Mitch who came out on top with some amazing barrel riding skills on the largest waves of the final, thrilling the big crowd in the water and on the land.

Mitch watch quoted as saying “this is the event that every Bodyboarder wants to win and I am happy I can now say I have won the Shark Island Challenge, even if only one time.”

The IBA World Tour now moves onto Europe for the IBA Sintra Pro in Portugal on the 28th August, which is event 5 of 8.

For more info simply go to IBA World Tour website www.ibaworldtour.com and facebook pages