OT: Shark attacks cause Margaret River Pro surf contest to be cancelled

[Keith A]

I know we have a few surfers on the Paceline and I just saw that the Margaret River Pro surf contest was cancelled due to shark attacks in the area. Some surfers are happy about the decision, but others say it's an acceptable risk.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-04-18/margaret-river-pro-cancelled-after-shark-attacks-near-gracetown/9670586

I can see both sides, but the sharks are always out there and it is indeed a risk you take when you enter the water. Of course, some areas have a greater potential for an attack than others.

[colker]

All sharks said it is an acceptable risk. NOt the surfers.

[William]

CYA.

If they went ahead and something happened, right after something happened,...something would happen.






William

[Keith A]

It has happened before and Mick Fanning was attacked by a shark during the final at the J-Bay contest in 2015...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrt27dZ7DOA

[d_douglas]

As a person with 'shark fear', I second that decision to cancel.

I live in an oceanside city in the PNW with beautiful beaches and while there are almost no sightings of sharks here, I cant help but think that there is nothing stopping them from migrating North from the Cali Coast to visit me :).

That link of Mick Fanning gives me shivers.

[Keith A]

I've had my share of close encounters with sharks while surfing. I had one brush against me while I was in waist deep water after catching a wave. We were also run out of the water when a true feeding frenzy took place...that was scary. I've seen plenty of them in the water and realize that they are always there.

The only good thing about living around the "shark attack capital of the world" is that the typical bite here isn't fatal -- but fatalities do happen...
https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/kite-surfer-killed-in-florida-shark-attack/

[spacemen3]

The odds of attack are roughly one in one hundred million. That said, I still keep behind the shark nets when surfing Durban. :)

[nighthawk]

As a person with 'shark fear', I second that decision to cancel.

I live in an oceanside city in the PNW with beautiful beaches and while there are almost no sightings of sharks here, I cant help but think that there is nothing stopping them from migrating North from the Cali Coast to visit me :).

That link of Mick Fanning gives me shivers.

Sorry for the bad news.. but I've seen sharks surfing on the northern Oregon coast. They are already on there way up to you! :eek:

[William]

As a person with 'shark fear', I second that decision to cancel.

I live in an oceanside city in the PNW with beautiful beaches and while there are almost no sightings of sharks here, I cant help but think that there is nothing stopping them from migrating North from the Cali Coast to visit me :).

That link of Mick Fanning gives me shivers.


Oh, they are there...:eek:






William

[saf-t]

We're getting more and more visitors every year to the seal buffet on Cape Cod. The Osearch website can be pretty informative, as can the Sharktivity app.

[Keith A]

Oh, they are there...:eek:Off the Florida coast...

https://www.tcpalm.com/videos/sports/outdoors/fishing/2017/03/15/massive-hammerhead-shark-hunts-blacktip-sharks-off-coast-palm-beach-county/99235164/

http://strangesounds.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/shark-florida-palm-beach-migration.jpg
https://www.gannett-cdn.com/-mm-/c476a95e71592cac2a686cbf45f6aed045da4746/c=337-0-5678-4016&r=x404&c=534x401/local/-/media/2017/02/07/Treasure%20Coast/TreasureCoast/636220803862732551-kajiura-6.jpg

[Seramount]

as a diver, have been in the water with hundreds of sharks over the years...reef sharks, hammerhead, white tip, black tip, silver tip, bull sharks, Galapagos, and a tiger.

only one that ever caused me any anxiety was a 4' silky shark that had a seriously bad attitude...after multiple high-speed runs at me with its pectoral fins pointing down, I opted to leave the water.

being underwater with them is one thing...but, paddling around on the surface is a completely different deal. sharks associate splashing with injured prey.

seems like that's an open invitation for a strike or 'test bite'...

[Tony]

I've had my share of close encounters with sharks while surfing. I had one brush against me while I was in waist deep water after catching a wave. We were also run out of the water when a true feeding frenzy took place...that was scary. I've seen plenty of them in the water and realize that they are always there.

The only good thing about living around the "shark attack capital of the world" is that the typical bite here isn't fatal -- but fatalities do happen...
https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/kite-surfer-killed-in-florida-shark-attack/

Was hit by a large Great White off of Tamales beach while kayaking. I'm in this report of attacks in 2008 http://www.surfline.com/surf-news/looking-back-at-2008s-shark-attacks-on-the-pacific-coast-of-north-america-a-toothy-year_21623/

The GW hit so hard it took the gel coat off my kayak where it made contact. I went over and was able to brace off the water. It felt like a bomb went off on the port side of my kayak. After it hit me it surfaced 15 feet away and circled, its dorsal fin out of the water shredded on the back side. I got nauseous, froze. I was able to get it together and paddle towards my friends.
My forehead was bruised, large lump, think it made contact with the deck of my boat when it hit.

[Kirk007]

Off the Florida coast...

https://www.tcpalm.com/videos/sports/outdoors/fishing/2017/03/15/massive-hammerhead-shark-hunts-blacktip-sharks-off-coast-palm-beach-county/99235164/

http://strangesounds.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/shark-florida-palm-beach-migration.jpg
https://www.gannett-cdn.com/-mm-/c476a95e71592cac2a686cbf45f6aed045da4746/c=337-0-5678-4016&r=x404&c=534x401/local/-/media/2017/02/07/Treasure%20Coast/TreasureCoast/636220803862732551-kajiura-6.jpg

part of me would love to be in scuba gear lying on the bottom in those photos. Part of me is very happy just to witness from above or through photos.

[Hank Scorpio]

I was surfing at Nauset Light last summer in August and when I came in a random woman on the beach said “I was so glad you got out of the water.” I was a bit puzzled but I said thank you and returned to my family up the beach. After a quick google search this is what had happened the night before.

http://www.capecodtimes.com/news/20170821/video-shark-attacks-seal-close-to-surfers-at-nauset-beach

I always thought that Coast Guard beach had the most sightings. It is also the best beach for surfing on The Cape in my opinion.

[d_douglas]

Gross!!

off the florida coast...

https://www.tcpalm.com/videos/sports/outdoors/fishing/2017/03/15/massive-hammerhead-shark-hunts-blacktip-sharks-off-coast-palm-beach-county/99235164/

http://strangesounds.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/shark-florida-palm-beach-migration.jpg
https://www.gannett-cdn.com/-mm-/c476a95e71592cac2a686cbf45f6aed045da4746/c=337-0-5678-4016&r=x404&c=534x401/local/-/media/2017/02/07/treasure%20coast/treasurecoast/636220803862732551-kajiura-6.jpg

[spacemen3]

Gross!!

I think it's magnificent. Gross is a group ride with lycra-clad fat guys on Specializeds and Treks. ;D

[Llewellyn]

Maybe people should get things in perspective - there have been 15 shark attacks in Western Australia since 2000. In that same period there have been tens of millions of people visit the beaches and swim in the ocean.

People are at far more risk by getting behind the wheel of their car. It's the sharks that are in danger.....not humans.

[Seramount]

I think it's magnificent. Gross is a group ride with lycra-clad fat guys on Specializeds and Treks. ;D

yeah, don't get the 'gross' comment either. some people are so removed from the natural world...sad.

imo, seeing apex predators like sharks in their environment is awe-inspiring. they are so perfectly adapted to doing what they do.

[Keith A]

Maybe people should get things in perspective - there have been 15 shark attacks in Western Australia since 2000. In that same period there have been tens of millions of people visit the beaches and swim in the ocean.

People are at far more risk by getting behind the wheel of their car. It's the sharks that are in danger.....not humans.Here's the World Surf League's reasoning for canceling the contest...
http://www.worldsurfleague.com/posts/321315/2018-margaret-river-pro-cancelled-due-to-shark-and-safety-concerns

[Llewellyn]

Here's the World Surf League's reasoning for canceling the contest...
http://www.worldsurfleague.com/posts/321315/2018-margaret-river-pro-cancelled-due-to-shark-and-safety-concerns

I can see why they cancelled the event and my comment was more about the hysteria that comes after any shark attack. Governments and news outlets get the pitchforks out calling for culls of creatures that are doing far less harm to humans than humans are doing to them. What may have been missing from reports reaching the US is that one of the people who was attacked had been specifically warned to get out of the water after the first attack but chose to continue surfing. Sorry, no sympathy from me for that bloke.

I feel sorry for the first guy who was attacked and for other people who lose their lives but the fact remains that people are much less likely to be attacked by a shark than they are to be injured in a car accident, or even struck by lightning. In statistical terms it probably doesn't even register.

[Llewellyn]

yeah, don't get the 'gross' comment either. some people are so removed from the natural world...sad.

imo, seeing apex predators like sharks in their environment is awe-inspiring. they are so perfectly adapted to doing what they do.

Couldn't agree more :hello: