Close Encounters - Surfcore: Surf Forecasting and Community

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Was just wondering if any one has had an encounter that has left them with a little prezzie in their pants? One such encounter happened on a stunning early morning down in the deep south of New Zealand i was out on a glassey 2/3 ft mellow swell sittin there looking out to sea next thing here this noise behind me to see what i thought was a very large seal poke its head out of the water a few yards back it then disappeared only to appear right below me twistin and twirln knockin at my board, definitely got in my personal space !it rose its head out of the water and i saw a big set of tusks found out it wasnt a seal but a hooker sea lion there about the size of a cow and arent too friendly it then proceded to escort me to the beach one of the heaviest localism i have ever experienced! lesson learned think before you pee!!

Sing to the Seals

Talking about Seals - not long ago I was surfing in South Wales when a Seal made an appearance in the lineup. There was about ten of us out there, a grey but glassy kind of day and he was popping up here and there in between the sets, but not coming too close.

Someone mentioned about singing to them - so next time he popped up close to me I started whistleing, just quitely. The seal was just transfixed, just bobbing there staring at me and drifted towards me until he was just an arms length away!

I got a little bit freaked out at this point, they've got a good set of teeth on them, and paddled away a bit.

I don't know has anyone else tried the singing technique?

seals

hadnt heard of that but defo gonna try it next time i see one

speaking of which i was out in the sea on my own not long after i moved to wales when i had my first seal encounter...scared me shitless

i paddled around with my feet in the air and doing small strokes for a good half hour

'part from that got most scared was a long time ago stuck in a rip at south bay once on a fast incoming tide. rip wasn't too bad just i was shit tired and there was no beach to get out onto cos tide was up against the wall. i was convinced that a boat was gonna have to come get me and my bic (partners at the time!)

half an hour of paddling later

what happened??

well half an hour of paddling later...?? what happened? the suspense! : )

Great white

Gone surfing, may be gone for sometime.
Type in great white shark sightings in the uk, then click on the national geographic site. Makes you think before you go in.

Little Shark

Once I did see a shark in New Zealand though. We were surfing a left point in Northland near a Shipwreck. Me and my mate were walking up the point to catch another set, as it was a big onshore type of day and we were just getting swept down the point.

We climbed down the rocks following a local to the jump off point, and were just about down to water level, and there was a big splash about 10 meters off in the water, I just caught a glimpse of a large brown tail. Now the bloke in front of us completly freaked! And u-turned scrambling back up the rocks past us...

As he was a local we weren't really sure what to do - I didn't recon that it was serious - like a big dog fish or something. It was just the way the guy who got the best look at it, reacted badly? Well we gave it 5 mins and jumped in.

And I've still got my legs.
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Live and let surf!

I've had the old hole

I've had the old hole clencher a couple of times!
I was out at Sunshine Beach in Noosa Heads, lots of people out, and I saw a massive blue/black blob under the surface about 10ft away, i know water magnifies things but it was huge. I was worried for a bit but then a local guy saw my face and informed me it was a ray.

Another time at Broken Head beach just south of Byron, i was out on my own except for a scurfing crew. They dissapeared and i was just sat there day dreaming, it was kind of overcast, you know abit spooky when you're out on your own. So i was there with some song playing over and over when a big grey thing surfaced not 2 foot away (no shit it was close) my heart nearly lept out of my chest! Well it was a dolphin and it just came up took a look at me and then went on its way. Scary but breathtaking.