A shark swims through it: Part 1
After the drama, what has become of Jeffreys Bay?
Many surf locations are renowned for their shark attacks. The dymanic is familiar: an attack happens, the place becomes notorious, and thereafter its name is tainted by the spectre of the shark. In South Africa we used to have Ntlonyana, aka Breezy Point, in the Transkei. Zigzag Magazine photographer Alex Macun died there in 1982, and Australian surfer Mark Penches was attacked and killed there in 1997. It is forever known as ‘that sharky point’ where most are too scared to surf.
Now we have J'Bay, currently the most notorious surf location in the world.
So widespread was the dissemination of news following Mick Fanning's 'attack' that even famous South African actress Charlize Theron gave her flawed opinion on Jimmy Kimmel Live, a program that attracts up to 2.7 million nightly viewers. Her take on the matter saw the local community up in arms due to what seemed fairly blatant inaccuracies.
Theron's interview went viral on newsfeeds worldwide including USA Today, Daily Mail UK, OK Magazine, and many more prominent publications and websites. It also ran on every single news platform in South Africa. A Google search on ‘Charlize Theron Shark’ came back with 495,000 results, enough to do some damage to tourist traffic in Jeffreys Bay.
Following Theron's interview Jeffreys Bay City Councillor Brenton Williams quickly got on the front foot. While acknowledging "the shark incident was a horrendous moment", Cr Wiiliams also reminded people that surfers were the first international tourists to visit Jeffreys Bay in the 1960’s and that trend has continued up until today.
According to Cr Williams, despite the incident, and also despite Charlize Theron’s spin, things are still looking positive from a tourism perspective. “There have been no cancellations of accommodation bookings because of what happened to Mick,” said Cr Williams. "Funnily enough, J'Bay seems to have benefited through the incident due to the media coverage provided by the World Surf League and the local Jeffreys Bay media.”
In a conversation with Swellnet, Councillor Williams said the local council are investigating various methods to protect surfers out in the J'Bay lineup. These include a shark spotting program, similar to what is in place in False Bay, regular patrols of the surf breaks by lifeguards on a jet ski, and drone surveillance. Nothing has been settled on yet.
Beyond day-to-day protection many questions have been asked about next year's Billabong J'Bay Open. Most people in general conversation, including surfers and business owners in Jeffreys Bay, are confident that the J'Bay Open will return though nothing can be confirmed until the World Surf League publish their 2016 Championship Tour calendar.
Dave Prodan, World Surf League VP of Communications, has pointed out that there is work ongoing with regards to the J'Bay Open, and solutions are being discussed and reviewed.
"The WSL continues to review all mechanisms of its operations with regards to the J-Bay shark incident,” said Prodan. “The mechanisms under review include research, on-site surveillance, mitigation measures, response protocols and event scheduling. We continue to have discussions with all relevant parties, including our athletes, and will provide updates when appropriate."
Talk is one thing but action another. Immediately following the incident it was quiet out at Supers for a few days, with only Derek Hynd and a few others taking advantage of the uncrowded but small surf. However, when the next good swell arrived surfers put their reservations aside and half of Cape Town, a third of Durban, plus Kelly Slater and a few of his friends all paddled out together for a few comparatively busy sessions. Despite the bureacratic talk it was effectively business as usual out in the water at Supers.
And for local Jeffreys Bay brand Billabong, it’s also business as usual. Billabong are set to run their South African Junior Championships at Lower Point in the first week of October. Billabong's South African Marketing Manager Chad D’Arcy has put safety measures in place to protect the best junior girl and boy surfers in the country.
“Every surfer in the event will have a NoShark shark deterrent leash to wear in the event,” said D’Arcy, “but we have a number of other measures in place. We will have two jet skis in the water throughout, with shark spotters on the skis, we will have shark spotters deployed on elevated ground on land, and we will also have drone surveillance throughout the event. The drone imagery will also be screened live to a screen in the event HQ at the contest site, so another set of eyes can keep check along with the drone operator.”
Jordy Smith is a two time winner of the J'Bay Open and one of the best surfers to ever ride Supers. He has no doubt that this has all had a very positive spin.
“In my opinion it’ll be 100% on,” said Smith regarding the 2016 J'Bay Open. “It’ll probably be the most watched event in the world. Why would they not have it? I remember two years ago, the first time we surfed The Box, there was a shark in the water, thrashing around between me and Miguel, and we carried on surfing that event.”
Postscript: There is always the obligatory '"it's more dangerous to drive to the beach than go surfing" comment following an article like this, but here's a statistic to keep in mind: So far this year there have been more deaths from selfies than death from shark attacks worldwide. Shark fatalities = 8 vs selfie fatalities = 12. True shit.
Comments
Interesting postscript. I've always thought my selfies were pretty deadly but now there's proof.
It's a marketing managers wet dream. Everyones talking about it, even SA's hottest lass is in on the act, meanwhile Jordy Smith has said the smartest thing he's ever gonna say..."It’ll probably be the most watched event in the world"
Get the WSL to play up the danger aspect, rig the draw so Mick meets Julian in Round 2 and put Charlize on beach mic as penance. Instant hit.
On one hand the WSL were gifted a PR bonanza when Mick escaped the shark, yet on the other hand they were just a few firing neurons from a bloody (and live) death, which would've been followed by the WSL's commercial demise. Cooler heads are aware of just how close they came.
The risk can no longer be called negligible because it has happened once, but if the were to happen again? The business community of J'Bay can state any case they want about tourism but the WSL would be up for negligence.
Heading to Jbay in feb next year, my partner and I are having our first baby In 4 weeks time. Supers has always been a wave that even as a grom I have been super keen to surf. Defiantly when I'm there I'm there, if it's on there will be no hesitations in heading out but now with more than just me to consider having increased thoughts about the man in the grey suit.. it may not be quiet the experience I dreamt of..
Well until I get a couple of 10 second tubes that is..;)
one thing's for certain, the WSL better get a 2 minute delay sorted.
or did they already have one?
Having all the boats and jet skis there during the comps with motors idling for hours will create a sense of safety but will also create a long running vibration signal reaching out for miles drawing in the curious cage dive acclimatised GWs for a look.
Fishos have noted that the clatter of anchor chains and certain motor types draw in sharks now.
Silence is golden in the ocean as sound carries better than any other signal. Don't kick your legs trying to catch waves in sharky spots - stick to steady deep strokes.
They have always been there and mostly left us alone. But the issue is the potential for behavioural changes along with increasing numbers.
Read a book once about someone who hunted rogue tigers in India. 95% avoid humans but once one, through hunger or incination, loses the fear of man and makes the shift to seeing humans as prey they kept targeting people either through ambush or stalking through the villages at night and literally ripping the doors down on flimsy houses in the dead of night.
Cage diving would seem to me to be the most likely factor in any behavioural changes that may be occurring.
Ultimately the only long term solution across wide areas of coast can really only be some form of electric charge repellent that may not be 100% safe but works well enough so that it creates aversion therapy for the sharks so they associate humans with shocks.
Frog you hit the nail on the head 100% I reckon. You have basically pointed out not one, but two elephants in the room.
One - rogue sharks!! How many attacks have they had in WA since that young bloke pegged his spear down the throat of that pointer that killed his mate?? One would assume that shark is now cactus so makes you think doesn't it!!
Two - repellents!! I have 2 mates that have been surfing Breezy Point mentioned in this article for the last 5 years using shark shields and they are yet to see a shark. Either they have been fucking lucky or these things work. I know it would be a sticky situation being the person proving they don't work, but hey it's better than nothing at all. Makes you wonder why there isn't more money and research being put into this option.!!
Mmm, Tiger sharks tearing down the doors of villagers in India. Settle down mate. Or did I read that wrong?
That lifeguard story seemed far-fetched.
Agree with Jordy though.
At the expense of a pair of Mick Fanning's undies this year, Jbay 16 will most certainly see more bums on seats.
It will be for the same reasons that people watch Zeigfried and Roy - because there is a chance that, while playing with a tiger, someone is going to get bitten.
If JBay 2016 is anywhere near as entertaining as that rag-tag German-American duet then mark my words, viewing records will tumble.
Siegfried and Roy! Now that takes me back.
Back when you were just a mere protein shake in your mothers eye, Clivus, ol' Gaz gave those two a few styling (and stylin') lessons that helped shape their image. Showed them the now classic combination of oiled pecs and tiger-skin suits.
Without me, they wouldn't have achieved such fame as fashion icons.
Hahaha your posts are hilarious.
Said no one
Thanks Mibs,
I'll make sure I quote you on my soon to be released 'Gary G - Internet Superstar' line of exercise gear.
"Your posts are hilarious" - Mibs, appreciator of quality Internet humour
The selfie / driving stats Craig mentioned in the postscript don't appear that convincing one way or the other. These stats are simply comparing total numbers of people injured (rather than percentages), but don't factor in how many poeple undertake that activity. Nor do they factor in the average time that those people are exposed to that risk. I am not suggesting surfing is more dangerous, just that my inner geek doesn't compute the mathematical reasoning. Anyway, risk comparisons were not the reason I chose surfing over playing chess.
Anyone know much about Noshark? I've looked on their website. Is it similar to sharksheild and has any testing been done? I remember reading somewhere that a few of these shark repellent things were independently tested and failed.
Yeah I had a look at that too. There's a lack of convincing marketing on the website. I wrote to them and asked if they have any independent scientific testing that they can publish. What they have up there at the moment is at best promising but certainly not convincing.
I truly wish them well and hope they actually have an effective device, but they're going to have to do a whole lot better in order to establish the credibility of a product like this in my opinion. Certainly if they want to attract my $$
1st pic in there gallery ...hmm, no vids and there disclaimer just about covers everything
Ha ha swanning! Don't snap ya leggy and start floundering around like a seal... a la ellensbrook, hope you've had some waves youngn.... pumping in indo last week!
At any given moment there are probably a million people taking a selfie....and a couple of people surfing Jeffrey's.
Statistics are basically lies....99% of the time.
Instagram :Rotorwing helicopters spotted a GWS this morning amongst surfers at Boulders bch .
Close!