A great white shark chased two foil surfers for several miles off the coast of Santa Barbara, California, during a recent downwind run.
The encounter highlights the unpredictable nature of apex predators in coastal waters and the risks associated with long-distance foil surfing in shark habitats.
Kai Lenny and Ron Takeda were performing a downwind foil run from Santa Barbara to Carpinteria when the shark appeared. The animal followed the surfers for approximately 10 miles [1] during a total trip that spanned 20 miles [2]. Footage of the event shows the shark tracking the surfers for several minutes [3].
Observers estimated the length of the shark to be between 10 and 11 feet [1]. Despite the proximity of the predator, the shark appeared curious rather than aggressive. It followed the surfers instead of attempting an attack.
Foil surfing involves boards that lift above the water on a hydrofoil, which can create distinct acoustic and visual signatures. This may have attracted the shark's attention as the surfers moved across the open ocean.
The event occurred over the weekend, though the exact date was not specified in the reports. The surfers managed to complete their run without injury, though the experience provided a harrowing look at the scale of great white sharks in the region.
“The shark appeared curious and followed the surfers rather than attacking them.”
This encounter underscores the ability of great white sharks to track movement over significant distances in the Pacific. While the behavior was non-aggressive, the persistence of the chase suggests that the hydrofoil's movement or the surfers' presence triggered a predatory or curious response, emphasizing the inherent risks of high-speed water sports in known shark corridors.
