08-26-2015, 03:59 AM
quote:
Originally posted by PunaMauka2
"[). But that reminds me of bolting in over the rocks at Pohoiki like a fool when I mistook one of those manta's fin tips as something more ominous.
Whelp, I may add to that, and while funny, manta scaring ya, to put it back to topic, the Duke probably didn't play at night.
Personally, I was not completely sure that I saw a shark, just something big and dark swimming down there in 15-20 feet of water. Me being a Blondie meant I was always game for the local's harassment. Most usually though, I'd set and wait fer da big uns and once I caught a few good waves, problem solved, there's an unspoken respect, regardless of color. . . But on this day there were a couple of guys 'local, locals' who were under the impression that they owned the ocean. wasn't a very big day, averge 3-5 ft and no big swells to wait on so, I were riding more frequently than usual. The local boys, who were not out far enough to catch the bigger swells, kept trying to cut me off. That ended up in wipeouts fer them and made em madder too. So, I'd just come back from a wave while they was stuck inside, fighting the wash, after failing to cut me off and wiping out, reclaiming their boards from the beach. I'd just sat up to wait for another set and once I began to relaxe, I saw something below, double checked and decided that whatever the heck it was, it was BIG , maybe 15 feet BIG, and I wasn't sticking around to find out!
I paddled away ASAP, keeping me toes and feet high, while thinking it might nip them! and grabbed anything and everything that already broke, rolling in on me belly.
But as I boarded in, there were those two locals paddling out, and there was no way to avoid coming into contact. I thought sure somebody was gonna get a beating, like, me! I kind-of figured; I might be able to take them, maybe, I mean, obviously I out surfed their butts so, me was stronger, at least, more skillful, but didn't want to discover the answer to that too. So, I opted the friendly route,, by yelling "Shark!" Shark! BIG Shark!" while pointing to the spot I saw that 'thing' before they could get close enough to run their mouths off. I also managed to get a little white water and ride past them.
I think they figured now, that I was just a scared rabbit, making up excuses cause I knew they were P.O.-ed and coming for me, as they ignored me while grinning, cursing and continued back out.
Once I hit the beach, I don't recall what I was doing but very shortly when I turned to look back out, there they were, coming out da wadder heading straight for me.. I knew; I'd have to stand my ground now, or get run down from behind if I tried to run away. But, they began shouting at me, yet there was too much nocse from the waves to comprehend what they were saying. when I could figure out what, and as they approached it was. "Thanks Bro! Brotta! ". They'd seen the shark too, and now, they was me buddies, grateful that, despite their attempts to assault and or intimidate me, I warned em. I chatted for a few minutes but, I don't need no pals who'd tried to attack and or assault me verbally or psychically cause 'they owned' the friggen ocean anywho.
Regardless, they saw it too, confirming one big un shark that afternoon..
The moral to that story is: Surfing or playing in the ocean depths where sharks are known to be, doesn't become a reality until ya see's em or worse, get tasted!.
And the Duke? I'd wager much, that he saw em too, and wasn't so dumb or ignorant like me, as to play in those waves in the dark.
Night swims, in shallow water, probably no problem,, providing you know where the depths change, Otherwise, that day sure messed up my delusions.