Shark Attacks and Shark Attack Related Incidents News Articles on Shark Bites

SHARK ATTACK ON CALIFORNIA'S CENTRAL COAST

Surfer fends off 14-16 foot shark with his own surfboard

SURF NEWS

By: Evan Fontaine

September 12, 2008

Just as California's lineups were beginning to thin out and the waves were starting to pick up again, surfers were reminded that with the good sometimes you have to take the bad.

On Monday, September 7th, the California coastline was rattled by a shark attack at Surf Beach in Lompoc on the state's central cost in northern Santa Barbara County. Likely a Great White Shark, early estimates place the animal in the 14 to 16 foot range based on the bite marks left on the fins side of the victim's surfboard.
The surfer, who has yet to be identified, was not injured in the attack though was probably saved by his own quick thinking, ingenuity and a bit of luck. As the large shark circled him, he turned his surfboard around so that the side closest to the shark pointed fins first - making his last line of defense between certain death and maiming a trio of fins and a sandwich of fiberglass and Styrofoam only an inch or so thick. As luck would have it, the shark seized the makeshift spear but retreated soon after.


This is the most recent incident in what have been very busy spring and summer seasons regarding shark encounters and sightings up and down the Pacific coast. This is also the first attack in California since the vicious, fatal attack on Dr. Dave Martin at Tabletops in Solana Beach this past April.

Surfline will keep you updated as the details of this story continue to unfold.

http://www.surfline.com/surf-news/surfe ... ast_18539/

Surf Beach — On September 7, 2008 a surfer, Kyle, had his board bitten at Surf Beach, which is located near Lompoc not far from Highway 1 and 240 where the road ends at Vandenberg Air Force Base in Northern Santa Barbara County.
Martin Brody at The Fear Beneath web site provided the following information:

“Our sources tell us that while out surfing, a friend of theirs - Kyle (last name withheld) - was on ‘the outside reform’ at Surf Beach on Monday when a large shark began to circle him. Kyle used his surfboard as a shield and pointed the fins of his board towards the shark. The shark took the board into its mouth for several seconds before releasing the board."