Sunday, April 22, 2012
Thursday, April 12, 2012
Saturday, April 7, 2012
Kelly Slater Starts ASP Season Fast
ASP champion Kelly Slater finished second at the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach, clinching the ASP World No. 1 position after just two events on the 2012 ASP World Championship Tour.
© ASP/ Kirstin
Photographer: Kirstin Scholtz
© ASP/ Kirstin
Photographer: Kirstin Scholtz
Surfer Punches Shark And Survives
By Catharine Paddock PhD
Medical News Today
07 Apr 2012
It is not often we hear of an encounter with a shark where the shark slinks away and the human survives relatively unscathed. But this week, we have news of how 28-year-old Joshua Holley from Hawaii, fended off a shark that attacked him - while he was surfing off the coast of Oahu where he lives - by punching it in the face.
Holley told ABC News he first felt a push on his body, and when he looked to his left he saw a large dorsal fin and then felt a "popping" sensation in his foot. Later in hospital, he discovered the shark bite had severed two tendons and made a wound requiring 42 stitches, but luckily had punctured no major arteries.
The shark then went under the water and came up on the other side. Holley did some quick thinking, remembered the most sensitive part of a shark was the snout, and then:
"I'm kind of holding it and it's coming out on the right side, I punched him once and twice with my right hand, it submerged and swam off," said Holley.
Other surfers came to the rescue and helped Holley make his way back to the beach.
He said he was terrified at the time, but felt an instinct kick in that made him say to the shark, "I'm not gonna die today".
Despite his terrifying encounter, Holley bears no resentment toward the shark, which he describes as about 10 feet long and likely a tiger shark. He said he is not angry with the shark, it's just doing what comes naturally.
"You have to remember when you're in the ocean you have to respect the ocean, that's where they eat, live, breed - we're just visitors in their home," he told ABC News.
Holley says he fully intends to be back in the water, as soon as the doctors say he can. But first he must wait for his injuries to heal: he is going to need orthopedic surgery and treatment on his foot.
Tiger sharks are large, blunt-bosed predators named for the dark, vertical stripes found mainly on juveniles: the lines start to fade and almost disappear as they grow into adults.
According to National Geographic, tiger sharks have a "duly earned reputation as man-eaters", second only to great white sharks in attacking people.
But whereas a white shark may well swim away after biting a human, a tiger shark is more likely to stay and finish the job, because of a "near completely undiscerning palate".
As well as humans, they eat nearly everything: they have sharp, highly serrated teeth and powerful jaws. They can crack open the shells of sea turtles and clams.
Stomach contents of captured tiger sharks have revealed a nearly limitless menu of diet items, including seals, birds, squids, stingrays, sea snakes, and even license plates and old tires.
It would seem that thanks to some quick thinking, and the fact the shark chose to bite his foot first, Holley had a very lucky escape.
Medical News Today
07 Apr 2012
It is not often we hear of an encounter with a shark where the shark slinks away and the human survives relatively unscathed. But this week, we have news of how 28-year-old Joshua Holley from Hawaii, fended off a shark that attacked him - while he was surfing off the coast of Oahu where he lives - by punching it in the face.
Holley told ABC News he first felt a push on his body, and when he looked to his left he saw a large dorsal fin and then felt a "popping" sensation in his foot. Later in hospital, he discovered the shark bite had severed two tendons and made a wound requiring 42 stitches, but luckily had punctured no major arteries.
The shark then went under the water and came up on the other side. Holley did some quick thinking, remembered the most sensitive part of a shark was the snout, and then:
"I'm kind of holding it and it's coming out on the right side, I punched him once and twice with my right hand, it submerged and swam off," said Holley.
Other surfers came to the rescue and helped Holley make his way back to the beach.
He said he was terrified at the time, but felt an instinct kick in that made him say to the shark, "I'm not gonna die today".
Despite his terrifying encounter, Holley bears no resentment toward the shark, which he describes as about 10 feet long and likely a tiger shark. He said he is not angry with the shark, it's just doing what comes naturally.
"You have to remember when you're in the ocean you have to respect the ocean, that's where they eat, live, breed - we're just visitors in their home," he told ABC News.
Holley says he fully intends to be back in the water, as soon as the doctors say he can. But first he must wait for his injuries to heal: he is going to need orthopedic surgery and treatment on his foot.
Tiger sharks are large, blunt-bosed predators named for the dark, vertical stripes found mainly on juveniles: the lines start to fade and almost disappear as they grow into adults.
According to National Geographic, tiger sharks have a "duly earned reputation as man-eaters", second only to great white sharks in attacking people.
But whereas a white shark may well swim away after biting a human, a tiger shark is more likely to stay and finish the job, because of a "near completely undiscerning palate".
As well as humans, they eat nearly everything: they have sharp, highly serrated teeth and powerful jaws. They can crack open the shells of sea turtles and clams.
Stomach contents of captured tiger sharks have revealed a nearly limitless menu of diet items, including seals, birds, squids, stingrays, sea snakes, and even license plates and old tires.
It would seem that thanks to some quick thinking, and the fact the shark chose to bite his foot first, Holley had a very lucky escape.
Thursday, March 15, 2012
AMERICAN PRO SERIES COMING TO SURF CITY
The American Pro Surfing Series announced Thursday the debut of a three-event series for Huntington Beach, Calif.
The first event is scheduled for late April on the south side of the Huntington Beach Pier. The others competitions, also scheduled for HP Pier, will be held in late September and early November.
The series is an opportunity for domestic surfers to hone their skills without leaving the country, event organizers said in a news release. All surfers are eligible except the ASP's top 34 title competitors.
Here is a prepared statement from APSS spokesman Scott Waring:
"Through more than 25 years of organized surfing experience, I've had the opportunity to watch many of today's premier young athletes grow into some
of the most talented and inspiring young men and women in the surfing
community. It was with this in mind the idea of producing a homegrown platform to support American surfers that the APSS was born."
A prize purse of $10,000 is being offered for the men, $2,000 for women.
The contest will include four-man heats with 50 per cent elimination,
starting with 64 men and 16 women.
Some of the big names expected to compete include former world champion Sunny
Garcia and Mason Ho of Hawaii, Timmy Curran of Ventura, Chris Waring of Seal Beach, Killian Garland of Santa Barbara, Chris Ward of San Clemente and Colin Moran of Costa Mesa. In the women's division, Sarah Taylor and Jenna Balester of Huntington Beach and Demi Boelsterli of Santa Barbara are registered.
For information check here
The first event is scheduled for late April on the south side of the Huntington Beach Pier. The others competitions, also scheduled for HP Pier, will be held in late September and early November.
The series is an opportunity for domestic surfers to hone their skills without leaving the country, event organizers said in a news release. All surfers are eligible except the ASP's top 34 title competitors.
Here is a prepared statement from APSS spokesman Scott Waring:
"Through more than 25 years of organized surfing experience, I've had the opportunity to watch many of today's premier young athletes grow into some
of the most talented and inspiring young men and women in the surfing
community. It was with this in mind the idea of producing a homegrown platform to support American surfers that the APSS was born."
A prize purse of $10,000 is being offered for the men, $2,000 for women.
The contest will include four-man heats with 50 per cent elimination,
starting with 64 men and 16 women.
Some of the big names expected to compete include former world champion Sunny
Garcia and Mason Ho of Hawaii, Timmy Curran of Ventura, Chris Waring of Seal Beach, Killian Garland of Santa Barbara, Chris Ward of San Clemente and Colin Moran of Costa Mesa. In the women's division, Sarah Taylor and Jenna Balester of Huntington Beach and Demi Boelsterli of Santa Barbara are registered.
For information check here
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Kelly Slater's Day at the Beach in San Francisco
My short piece on Kelly Slater in Discovery Life Magazine can be found here.
Friday, March 2, 2012
Swedish Magazine Gives Surfing Book Props
Active Escape 360 did a spread on surfing and showcased Mastering Waves From Basic to Intermediate. Hope all the newbie Swedish surfers go out and buy a copy now.
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