Some windsurfers and surfers worry about sharks, some don't, and some lie about it. I myself don't worry about sharks, but I prefer to waterstart as fast as humanly possible when I fall in the ocean.
For those windsurfers who do worry about being eaten alive or losing a limb to these fish, shark repelling technology would be a welcome bit of gear to add to one's quiver. Unfortunately the stuff is still in beta. Or alpha. Engadget reports on a test of a new electronic shark repelling system from Australia called Shark Shield. They put the thing on a surfboard and sent it out into sharky waters off of South Africa. A Great White swam up and bit the device.
Maybe the batteries were in wrong.
(Story submitted by Peconic Jeff. Photo nicked from The Horse's Mouth.)
I read that article yesterday on the wetsand website. I envisioned the manufacturer of the device, after claiming "no one using the device has ever been bitten by a shark", standing on the beach passing the device back and fourth with a Wetsuit clad surfer saying, "you try it... no you try it... no you...." ;)
Posted by: chris | March 05, 2008 at 12:30 PM
oops. bummer. back to the drawing board, eh?
Posted by: bonnie | March 05, 2008 at 06:54 PM