Drama
The Ltd. household was in a state of high drama yesterday after the shark attack at the J-Bay pro surf contest in South Africa. If you've seen this in the news, you know that the surfer emerged from the ordeal with nothing more than skinned knuckles from hitting the shark in the back.
The video condenses the action, making it seem almost like a non-event, but witnessing it in real time was harrowing. The Ltds follow the WSL tour religiously and Mrs. Ltd. is the most fervent. She had the contest up and running online when I opened my eyes yesterday morning and we watched the quarter-finals and the semi-final sitting in bed. Much anticipation as the final was kicking off and I was in the kitchen refilling coffees when I heard a scream. I figured I was missing an epic wave so I ran into the bedroom to find the Saint near hysteria.
"What happened?"
"A shark just got Mick!"
It was pandemonium in the water and long, long moments until it was clear that he was safe and intact. The surfer who was attacked is a three-time world champ from the Gold Coast of Australia and a particular favorite with us. It was a horrible minute or two until it was clear he was all right. The Saint was beside herself and watched the follow-up multiple times to reassure herself it had come out fine.
The traumatizing moment for her was immediately after you see the shark whack Fanning in the head. He then disappears and a wave jacks up to obscure the action. At that point all you see is a splash come up from behind the wave. Hollywood couldn't have scripted a more chilling moment.
The other surfer in the final, Julian Wilson, (My pick, ahem, to win the contest in the Fantasy Surf League we're in. Son # 1 had picked Mick. From a highly competitive field of 36, we picked the two finalists.) is another Gold Coaster, a pretty boy with near flawless style and a beautiful blond girlfriend, and if this were a movie, he'd be the weasel whose cowardice is exposed in the crucial moment. However, video reveals that as he was paddling back out--he'd caught the first wave of the heat--he began paddling harder towards Mick when he saw the attack! Good stuff.
We were reduced to bonelessness for much of the day and the Saint is still recovering I think. Whew.
The video condenses the action, making it seem almost like a non-event, but witnessing it in real time was harrowing. The Ltds follow the WSL tour religiously and Mrs. Ltd. is the most fervent. She had the contest up and running online when I opened my eyes yesterday morning and we watched the quarter-finals and the semi-final sitting in bed. Much anticipation as the final was kicking off and I was in the kitchen refilling coffees when I heard a scream. I figured I was missing an epic wave so I ran into the bedroom to find the Saint near hysteria.
"What happened?"
"A shark just got Mick!"
It was pandemonium in the water and long, long moments until it was clear that he was safe and intact. The surfer who was attacked is a three-time world champ from the Gold Coast of Australia and a particular favorite with us. It was a horrible minute or two until it was clear he was all right. The Saint was beside herself and watched the follow-up multiple times to reassure herself it had come out fine.
The traumatizing moment for her was immediately after you see the shark whack Fanning in the head. He then disappears and a wave jacks up to obscure the action. At that point all you see is a splash come up from behind the wave. Hollywood couldn't have scripted a more chilling moment.
The other surfer in the final, Julian Wilson, (My pick, ahem, to win the contest in the Fantasy Surf League we're in. Son # 1 had picked Mick. From a highly competitive field of 36, we picked the two finalists.) is another Gold Coaster, a pretty boy with near flawless style and a beautiful blond girlfriend, and if this were a movie, he'd be the weasel whose cowardice is exposed in the crucial moment. However, video reveals that as he was paddling back out--he'd caught the first wave of the heat--he began paddling harder towards Mick when he saw the attack! Good stuff.
We were reduced to bonelessness for much of the day and the Saint is still recovering I think. Whew.
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