Purists rejoice , ha ! …
Shapers Night at the Museum courtesy of Alley Fish Fry
Just looked at the Hellfish website -
interesting little point of difference they’ve got going …
not seeing the pic
Funny yeah someone else said that but it shows on my puter.
Linked another way -
Looks like a giant lure…
Paddle that thing out near Santa Cruz and become a Happy Meal!
"Fish are Friends not Food? Shark Story
No chance surfing that baby.
Great Work!
That this is awesome. I would make that my board for up north… I wonder how long it would take to become a meal using that
g’day Ifallalot, I see that your location is Santa Cruz. I used to surf there when I lived in the US. What I am about to say is meant to reassure you rather than worry you (although I suppose that depends on where in Santa Cruz you surf).
One of my more memorable surf days was on a magnificent south swell. When I was starting the paddle out the waves that were washing though the channel brought in a sea lion (those things are big). It was no longer alive and had a big chunk taken out of its side (the missing chunk was several feet wide). The hole in its side was bright blood red so it had only just met its misfortune. It occurred to me that perhaps I should turn around and not go surfing, on the other hand I could see plenty of surfers out at the break and there is the saying “safety in numbers”, although I was thinking more in terms of statistical safety rather than the numbers of surfers could actually frighten predators away.
When I got to the lineup I mentioned it to a high performance longboarder called Scott. He said that yes he had actually seen it take what he believed to be its last dive and said it was quite gruesome with its guts hanging out.
Anyway this is my reassuring theory - and it is only a theory. A South African explained to me that the shark nets in Durban are in sections and not continuous, so they do not physically prevent fish from swimming through the gaps. He said that the sections are interleaved and that they work by discouraging the sharks because they do not like the feeling of being trapped with nets on both sides. So as you know Santa Cruz is full of long strands of seaweed which reach from the sea bed all the way up to the surface and my theory is that they act as shark nets. So what I think had happened was that the sea lion had gone outside of the seaweed barrier and got had. This break is surrounded by seaweed and I did some research which indicated that particular spot had never had any attacks - although my research was a bit light - I asked a few people. So although I used to find it annoying to get thrown off my board from hitting seaweed, have to untangle it from my leash and take non optimal lines dodging seaweed through critical sections I found its presence comforting.
OK and now for a surfboard design tip given to me by Strive Surfboards of Santa Cruz - I asked for FCS on my custom board, but the shaper suggested I get Futures because FCS tended to collect seaweed under the gap where the leading edge overhangs the tab.
Lowering the risk...
I love the 'safety in numbers' argument. Theoretically and apparently empirically it does seem to be true. But you've just to wonder what happens if one of the 'numbers' gets hit, that is one of the people in your pod or group gets hit. Does everyone just paddle to shore and let the poor fellow/gal founder about with some oozing trauma?
Personally, I'm not sure what I'd do. If I knew the person (and actually liked them... a cruel but true qualification) I'd like to believe I'd help them, which would expose me to the same faith, but now with the odds reversed -i.e. an very increased chance of being hit. I simply don't know the limits of my own altruism.
The herd strategy surely works, but that we seem to take comfort in it is a little disturbing. In fact it seems to rub against all we in the 'land of the free' and 'home of the brave' like to believe about ourselves. (No, this isn't a segue into a debate on health care, but it definitely could be.)
Don't get me wrong, on occasion I have felt the same way, or felt secure in using the 'numbers' strategy. I just find it uncomfortable intellectually. Admittedly however, I seem to be able to overcome this personal objection quite easily.
Increasing the risk...
There's also this problem that whereas the herd will reduce any one individual chances of being hit, it increases the possibility someone in the group of being hit. That is, the strategies adopted by such top predators is often to go where the food is, and wait for an opportunity to feed. An single individual can surely attract attention, but a herd definitely has a better chance.
Anybody know if the powered heating suits are broadcasting?
By the way, anybody know if those (powered) heating system suits are broadcasting -i.e. the kind of electrical field they're throwing out, if any. It would be kind of funny if those suits turned out to be electronic lures. Think about it, 20 plus guys in the water, all broadcasting “Eat Here!”, that would be in addition to the usually splashing about and other attractants. Or even if you were alone, "Appetizer here!".
Same question regarding waterproof iPods etc.
kc
The spot where I usually surf is well protected by the kelp beds, so I don’t worry there it is more north of town where I sometimes get the heebie jeebies…
And as to your statement about FCS fins, I can vouch that this is the truth, I only have one board with FCS and kelp gets caught up underneath the leading edge of the fin all of the time; I don’t really see it affecting anything, it is just annoying.
I don’t think the kelp bed theory holds much water. Diving budies have seen many sharks in the kelp beds (especially in norcal) hunting down a meal, and the guy who was hit in Solana Beach while swimming was between the kelp bed and shore if memory serves. Sharks are predators and scavengers, they are unpredictable. But you’re more likely to get hit by lightning than a shark.
With that said, I would not tempt fate by paddling that board out anywhere. It looks really cool, but a shark might think it looks yummy.
Ha! Jaws music as you surf it…