Recovering big wave legend wants to tackle Shipstern Bluff big wave event
THEY say don’t try to run before you can walk, but what about charging monster waves before you can surf?
Tasmania
Don't miss out on the headlines from Tasmania. Followed categories will be added to My News.
THEY say don’t try to run before you can walk, but what about charging monster waves before you can surf?
That’s exactly what Mark Mathews, the creator of the Red Bull Cape Fear big wave surfing event, wants to do at Tasmania’s Shipstern Bluff this year.
In 2016 Mathews, an Australian big wave maestro, suffered a potentially career ending injury surfing a “shallow right hand slab” outside of Sydney.
He was dumped and slammed into the reef by a monster wave, tearing his anterior cruciate, lateral collateral and posterior cruciate ligaments, an artery and a nerve and fracturing his shin.
He was told by doctors he may never surf again and two years on he is relearning to surf in small waves.
Mathews yesterday announced his extreme big wave surf competition, Red Bull Cape Fear, would be held at Tasmania’s renowned Shipstern Bluff on the Tasman Peninsula this year.
There is a five-month window from yesterday to December 31 for a big enough swell to roll in for the event.
MORE: SURFERS WHO KNOW NO FEAR
A team of organisers, meteorologists and surfers are keeping a close watch on the weather maps of the Southern Ocean.
When they see the right swell approaching, 20 of the best big wave surfers will be called up from across the globe to compete on what Mathews says are in the “top five best, biggest and baddest big waves in the world”.
Mathews hopes the swell arrives late enough in the waiting period for his leg to recover enough to compete.
“It would be well ahead of schedule, but my performance in smaller waves is getting better,” he said.
“My leg is getting better so I have my fingers crossed that it will run a little bit later in the waiting period and then I might be strong enough to surf.”
Mathews said the severe nerve damage he sustained in the wipe-out means he can’t control his foot properly.
He said it would be tough getting back in the water at Shipstern.
“Shipstern is one of the most intimidating locations on the planet.
“Whether you’re towing or paddling, what you actually look at when you’re about to take off on the wave is crazy,” he said.
“I just don’t want to re-injure my knee that they basically just put back together.”
Mathews won the inaugural Cape Fear event in 2014 at the fearsome Sydney surf break Cape Solander — known to local surfers as “Ours”.
“My performance in smaller waves is way ahead of where I thought it would be, so I feel like I could surf big waves already, but it’s just being able to deal with the wipe-out and how violent that is.”
Mathews said surfing Shipstern would be a shock to even the most hardy big name surfers from abroad.
“It almost doesn’t look surfable.
“I think that gives such an awesome edge to the locals and the guys who have surfed it before because they know what they’re looking at and they know they can make it.
“I’m just excited for it to go down, but at the same time I’m going to be devastated if I have to sit on the sidelines.”
The line-up of competitors invited by Red Bull to compete at this year’s event include the 2016 Australian Cape Fear winner Russell Bierke, recently retired Australian three-time world champion Mick Fanning and Hawaiian chargers Jamie O’Brien and Nathan Florence.
The 10 Tasmanians set to tackle the local monster in competition rash vests aree Daniel Griffiths, Zebulon Critchlow, Shaun Wallbank, James Hollmer-Cross, Tyler Hollmer-Cross, Marti Paradisis, Michael Brennan, James McKean, Brook Phillips and Alex Zadawadzki.
Surfers invited to Red Bull Cape Fear 2018
Russell Bierke (AUS)
Pedro Scooby (BRA)
Daniel Griffiths (TAS)
Michael Brennan (TAS)
Mick Fanning (AUS)
Laurie Towner (AUS)
Shaun Wallbank (TAS)
Zebulon Critchlow (TAS)
Ross Clarke-Jones (AUS)
Ryan Hipwood (AUS)
James McKean (TAS)
Brook Phillips (TAS)
Jamie O-Brien (USA)
Nathan Florence (USA)
James Hollmer-Cross (TAS)
Marti Paradisis (TAS)
Kai Lenny (USA)
Billy Kemper (USA)
Tyler Hollmer-Cross (TAS)
Alex Zawadzki (TAS)
Date set for long-awaited opening of new Bridgewater Bridge
After decades of uncertainty, a date has finally been set for the opening of the new $786m Bridgewater Bridge – and the public has been invited to celebrate the milestone at a special event.
How you can snap up a gourmet Banjo’s doughnut for as little as $2
A mouth-watering new range of gourmet doughnuts has hit the shelves at Banjo’s - and savvy sweet tooths can get their hands on the delicious treats for a bargain price.