It's A Frenzy

The shark scenario is out of hand

- Craig Jarvis

When the most famous surfing shark incident happened before my eyes, as well as in front of the eyes of my whole family, one could say that it rattled the cage. Fanning was sitting exactly where I usually sit when I surf out at Supers, and to be honest, I haven’t bothered much ever since. Some surfers are seemingly unaffected, paddling out ten minutes after a sighting, while others, like myself, get intensely influenced by the presence of sharks.

This year it didn't make things any better when that grey boy came strutting through the line-up during the J-Bay Open, although on the drone footage it was most definitely in cruise mode, going for a solitary meander up the point. It was still a startling moment for spectators, the surfers, and myself to witness such a thing.

I was chatting to Surfing Australia National Coach, Andy King, who had been taking Julian Wilson on a few free surfs when there was time, and Kingy described a little beach break around the corner from my house that he had been surfing with the world number three. It has a reputation of being one of the sharkiest spots around, with the local fisherman always coming in with shark stories. I told Kingy as such, calling him a bloody idiot or possibly words stronger than that.

“I felt them,” said Kingy. “When Jules got a wave and I was sitting out the back, I kinda sensed them. It would have been nice to have a few more guys out.”

“It’s crazy to surf out there,” I suggested. “Mate. We see so many of them all the

time back home now. I’m definitely a little immune to the dangers,” reckoned Kingy. “Thing is, what are you going to do if more of ‘em start coming? What if this is the start of something” You can’t stop surfing now mate, it’s too late.”

“Yeah, but,” I admonished. “There are places with less sharks than that particular corner!”