[SA Chris]

Of all the places in the world where you worry that you might get snacked on, the North Sea is pretty low on your list.

We used to go sponging in rivermouths in the Transkei when we were kids, not knowing the guys casting rods a hundred yards down the beach where fishing for sharks.

North Sea you are more likely to die from hypothermia, camlylobacter infection or industrial pollution in the water.

[Falling Down]

Or drown... 

[SA Chris]

Can do that anywhere!

[Baron]

Sandsend/Saltburn tomorrow - worth a look? Forecast mediocre.

[SA Chris]

Dunno about forecast for down your way, but I think earlier the better is the way to go here. I'm aiming for SSE facing, but sheltered from S winds.

[Probes]

Scary shark! Last summer i was having a dusk session at gwenvor with a mate and up popped a fin no more than 30 feet away and a shadow maybe some 20-25 feet long.. my mate sussed straight away but i didnt, i absolutley shat my pants...like full on panic, embarrassing screaming etc lol. it was a basking shark. Really cool in hindsight to think we were so close to such an amazing animal. Could have lamped my mate for not telling me tho sooner... bastard

[philo]

inside sunderland pier looked reasonable but fucking wind ruined it.  Tomorrow looks disgusting for the north easters barron. 

and your right regarding the sharks and the north sea pollution.  Infact, i nearly got taken out by an assembly of lobster/crab pots and alot of heavy rope that came over a huge wave (that i was not going for) about a week or two ago.  I tried to drag it into the shore as it was only waist deep.  If anything the curiosity MMMM free lobster anyone?

Alas i couldn't even move it an inch, it was so heavy.  Couldn't see any blue diamonds in the pots either.  Double shitter

[Idol eyes]

One fins safe... Two bad!
Pumping, with strong offshore.
3-5 ft...
tomorrows better?
 

[Idol eyes]

[SA Chris]

it was a basking shark.

I've surfed Muizenburg with Southern Right Whales and dolphins just beyond the line up. On the edge of False Bay you learn your fin recognition very quickly. At least they have fulltime shark spotters on the cliffs there.

[gme]

I can remember surfing Muzenburg thinking "what are all those boats doing out there" as there was a constant stream of boats heading out and back from a spot about 3/4 mile out.
The next day we found out its the big tourist shark cage diving area. Not so keen on that spot now.
The week after i surfed a spot at Knysna on my own in really nice conditions thinking this is nice. Only realised why it was empty when when me and Mrs GME went to a bar on the front that night and they were having a collection to raise money for the body boarder who had lost his leg the day before. South African surfing was not as great as i thought from that point onwards.
Still went in every day though.

This was in 1998 when there was 15 attacks, the worst ever year. i was there for three weeks and there were five whilst i was there.

[curly ben]

any ideas where to be this week.? got tuesday, wednesday, thurs and poss friday- a car full of fuel and a tasty 6 2. What are options like around thurso if it really is 25ft!as per msw

[SA Chris]

I think cage diving must at least be partially to blame for the increase in attacks? Especially when they chum and tie bits of fish to the cages

The week after i surfed a spot at Knysna on my own in really nice conditions thinking this is nice.

Was that Buffel's Bay? Apparently notoriously sharky, first time i tried stand up surfing was there, with HK Stuey and his brother.

Parents have now moved to George so Victoria Bay is conveniently close by.

[fatdoc]

any ideas where to be this week.? got tuesday, wednesday, thurs and poss friday- a car full of fuel and a tasty 6 2. What are options like around thurso if it really is 25ft!as per msw

dont you ever work? 

somehow, somewhere... you made some very bright career choices
 

[curly ben]

Ha Ha, Fat Doc i lead a spartan and monastic life.......some would call me a mercenary. I prefer locum. Serves a purpose at the mo, plenty of free time, little commitment. However i do sometimes crave a little routine, regular income, regular working hours and the trappings of a 'normal' life.

[philo]

fuck that, im surfing all i can and teaching when i have to.
I want to move to Australia in a few years hopefully to teach..... anyone here for the free accommodation on the gold coast?  Thats realistically where I want to go.

[granticus]

Andy Irons died today, missed his heats in Puerto due to a fever, died in Dallas en route back to Hawaii. RIP
 

[Falling Down]

Shocking and sad news, Andy Irons dies at 32    http://blogs.surfermag.com/office-blog/breaking-news-andy-irons-passes-away/

[SA Chris]

Shit, can hardly believe it. RIP.

[chris05]

Bloody hell, that is shocking. RIP.

[DaveC]

.... anyone here for the free accommodation on the gold coast?  Thats realistically where I want to go.

Gold Coast is a hideous over-developed shit-hole with way to many "bogans!" Try further south in New South Wales or somewhere that's still fit for human habitation.

[Probes]

Jeez thats tragic.

[curly ben]

Central coast man..... great waves far enough away from sydney, good choice reefs, beachies and epic points when the light up. Busy like everywhere in aus, with 11yr old super groms padding in to every wave going- but there are tons of mid week waves cool..ish locals and good weather.

[philo]

RIP indeed.

[philo]

had a surprisingly good session today in the east coast, 3ft shallow barrels and steep slabs made my day as i had it all to myself.  Hurt my wrist on Monday night so each pop up hurt (but it was worth it)
Shared my line up with a seal at the end of my session, i nearly shit myself when i saw it beside me a few metres away.  With recent posts in here regarding the critters in the sea, i fell off my board when sitting for the set to come in when i seen it.  Brilliant moment tho, beautiful creature and it was fucking big.  Just popped its head up and sat there for a few mins.

Because they were super clean waves today i could really slow down my thought process when i was surfing and i wondered, am i the only wrongly wired surfer out there?

I am left handed but play cricket/golf right handedly.
I am right footed but surf/board goofy.   

bit of a long post but im so stoked from a session that on paper was looking to be so shit and I thought I had more chance of winning takeshis castle than getting a good 3 hours of bliss today.