Image by Mike “Dakinewavamon” Kline via Flickr

  Its summertime in South Australia , when those wetsuits and surf boards get dusted off after a long winters break. Its time to hit the waves again with mates and enjoy the hot days and beautiful beaches.

  On any given summer day when the swell is up on local reefs and sand bars, the army of surfers head out to catch a ride all that is on their minds is the next ride, or is it?. 

  After numerous shark attacks last year on southern Australian beaches, has this effected the way the surfers think before they go out to catch that next big wave?  Stop to ask a few local riders how they feel about shark attacks and if it has effected the way they surf. The general attitude of the surfers will be very apathetic and the general opinion and most popular response would be ” You have more chance of being struck by lightning than attacked by a shark” The surfers agree that sharks are on the mind when out surfing but the fear of being attacked was something  they were prepared to deal with in order to get that next great wave. The thought of a shark attack is enough to clear a beach of all people for days, the true surfers are always still out there waiting for a wave. Kids as young as ten also have the same do or die attitude toward their chosen sport. Brave or tempting fate you have to admire the attitude of surfers we could all take a lesson from them, overcoming fears to reach a goal applies to all walks of life.

     Sharks have just become part of  beach life in Australia, thousands surf and swim at the beaches every day and most will never see a shark, even surfers the more high risk beach goers seldom encounter sharks. The rare attacks that do happen every year only make surfers aware of sharks but its going to take a hell of a lot more than that to keep them away from their favourite break.