HISTORY

Shark Island has produced plenty of top class locals over the years. Names like Chaz McCall, Doug Robson, Brett Young, Matt Percy, Nugget, Ballard, Rissole, Lester and John Showell have all made their mark on this incredible wave that seems made for bodyboarders. Below Wazza Feinbeer is another of the Island crew who neglected his own personal safety to ride this incredible barrel. Wazza approach was fearless and in his prime he was  prepared to pay the ultimate sacrifice to get heavily barrelled. Below Wazza with his unique canoe helmet photo by Stroh ’89.

 

When this free-fall shot was taken in the late 80′s Warren “Wazza” Feinbeer was already wearing his trademark helmet. While most bodyboarders were using Gath Helmets, Wazza’s gun ho charging called for more drastic measures which was a more sturdier and rugged Canoe helmet. Wazza’s helmet made him standout in the lineup and the way he pulled into the meanest barrels the Island could serve up he needed all the protection he could get. Photo Chris Stroh.

 

 

Wazza first came to our attention in the early Underground Tapes videos where he became known for his crazy free-falling takeoffs and pulling into mutant closeouts at Shark Island with his unique canoe helmet. He was fearless and gained a reputation as a total wave nutter. He would take off left into an Island death pit just too see what would happen. “If I don’t hit rock at least once, I havent had a good session” he was once quoted. Around the mid 90′s Wazza’s luck ran out and he suffered an almost  crippling wipeout to his back at Shark Island. Within months he was back out there but taking off on more makeable waves. Wazza still charges today but his wave choice is more selective than in his early gunho days.  Sequence below typical Wazza air drop by Stroh