If this had happened at Pipeline, would running the event there next year have even been a question? Photo: WSL
A non-stop freight train of pumping, double-overhead rights sounds like a winning formula for any surfing contest waiting period. Add a great white shark to that mix, and now you have a drama on your hands.
No other moment among WSL’s entire 2015 campaign was more heavy, memorable or talked about than the face-to-fin encounter three-time world champ Mick Fanning had with a large shark during the J-Bay Open final. With that in mind, I paused when I saw headlines regarding WSL’s decision to include Jeffrey’s Bay among its 2016 scheduled stops. Was there ever really a question?
If there was, and shark vs. surfer incidents were heavily taken into account when setting the schedule, it’s possible the entire Australian leg would be wiped out.
By nature, many of the world’s best surf spots are sharky. This still does not stop surfers (or should it) from rolling the dice – with odds heavily in their favor – to cash in on some killer waves. If you are in the water enough though, you are bound to see the “men in gray suits” from time to time. When you do, erring on the side of caution is the only call.
The actions Mick, Julian Wilson and the others in the water took on that day were downright heroic and inspiring. The “live to surf another day” protocol followed by the WSL post-incident was spot-on. So is the call to continue having J-Bay host the world’s best surfers.
You have to wonder, had the shark show happened at Pipe, would skipping the legendary North Shore stop even be up for discussion? Doubtful. Many great surf memories have been made on the rocky shores of South Africa. Thankfully, more are still to come.
