Picture this: 40 days and 40 nights aboard the grand Nuyina (V2), a scientific vessel equipped with the kind of table tennis setup that dreams are made of, and let’s not forget the moorings and krill-catching expeditions for science! But let’s stick to the game here: the doubles table tennis tournament became the heart and soul of the ship’s social calendar. Players were not just ping-pong champs, they were multitasking geniuses, darting between chess games on one deck and intense ping-pong matches on another. Tom O’Connor and the legendary "Goat" Novkovski clinched victory, though whispers of bias kept the corridors buzzing like Nuyina’s built-in acoustics.
Then came Casey station, a hub for resupply and a taste of Antarctic communal life. Alongside slushy duty (spoiler: being picked for this chore twice in a row is no Antarctic fairy tale), newcomers were introduced to darts hero, “THE SHANG.” Guided by Seb, Casey’s plumber-extraordinaire, the game brought excitement, frustration, and patience to new heights, often at the expense of residents waiting their turn.
Finally, at Mawson station, life settled into supporting scientific endeavours and mastering THE SHANG.
What is THE SHANG? I had to dig deep to find the origins, some of the clues came from Bela Levai – Balancing tech at Mawson, celebrating his birthday this week, 26.03.2025. Happy birthday Bela! He discovered that THE SHANG derives from the Shanghai darts game and became, let's say, an Antarctic variation of it. In Shanghai darts, the goal is to score a single, double, and triple of the same number with three darts, which automatically wins the game, regardless of the current score. The game is played through a series of rounds, with players aiming to hit the target numbers in order.
This isn’t just your ordinary Shanghai darts game, it’s an Antarctic-level brain teaser that involves closing numbers, scoring three darts of doubles, triples, bullseyes, and achieving the elusive “bed” (three darts of the same number in one round). The pinnacle achievement? The throw dubbed “SHANG”, hitting a single, double, and triple of the same number in one go. This prized move not only wins you 100 points but adds a touch of glamour to your leaderboard.
As Mawson expeditioners prepare for the mid-winter SHANG Championships, evenings are packed with dedicated practice, laughter, and the occasional head-scratching rule debates. While it may be tough to master, THE SHANG is about more than scoring, it’s a testament to focus, strategy, and having fun in the harshest of environments.
And there you have it—a whirlwind of ping-pong, darts, and Antarctic life—all wrapped up in the one and only THE SHANG!
