Shark halt not typical
OFFICIALS say sharks won’t automatically force the cancellation of the world surfing events in the future but the presence of actively aggressive sharks and beached whales at Margaret River – along with surfer fears – was behind the decision to can the third leg of the championship tour.
The World Surf League ( WSL) said Monday’s attacks on two men just hours apart, sharks feeding on a whale carcass and multiple sightings were “very unusual and troubling’’ and the “elevated risk during this season’s Margaret River Pro has crossed the threshold for what is acceptable”.
But officials also pointed out the presence of sharks would not prompt the automatic cancellation of other events.
“Everyone associated with our sport knows that there have been incidents in the past – and it’s possible that there will be incidents in the future – which did not ( and will not) result in the cancellation of an event,’’ said WSL CEO Sophie Goldschmidt.
WSL surf commissioner Kieren Perrow said while points have already been awarded to reflect surfers’ placings when the event was cancelled, there is a real possibility the remainder of both the men’s and women’s competitions could be run at a time and place still to be determined.
“I think it was positively received that we would look at doing this,’’ said Perrow of talks with athletes in the wake of the cancellation of the women’s event at the quarter- finals stage and the men’s in the third round.
Perrow stressed that while this option would be investigated nothing had been confirmed.
The former Australian pro surfer also said the organisation would continue to monitor any innovations in technology to deter sharks.
“We are constantly evolving our shark protocols,’’ Perrow said. open to improving it.’’
It is only the second time a world tour event has been cancelled due to shark attacks or sightings in recent times, with Mick Fanning and Julian Wilson’s final at the J- Bay Open cut short when a shark attacked the multiple Australian world championship winner in 2015.
Prior to this, the only world tour events cancelled were two European events in the wake of the September 11 terror attack in 2001.
Last year Fanning and Gabriel Medina were pulled from the water in a heat in South Africa when a shark swam through the competition arena but were later sent back in to complete their heat.
The adjusted world rankings will see both Stephanie Gilmore and Julian Wilson head overseas for the first non- Australian leg of the world tour – the Oi Rio Pro in Brazil next month – wearing the coveted yellow leaders’ rashies. “We are always