Kiteboarder hit by whale, more reason to fear the coast

Joshiebaby · Since 14 Oct 2007 569 Posts Vancouver, WA Addicted

http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,24626925-5012895,00.html

You gotta be kidding me. This is legit I assume. Anyone else seen this anywhere?

Kiteboarder David Sheridan swatted by whale tail
Article from: The Daily Telegraph

By Steve Gee

November 10, 2008 12:00am

IT'S a whale tale only Jonah could match.

But for kiteboarder David Sheridan, the proof of his amazing brush with a southern right whale is there for the world to see, as this amazing photograph shows.

Skimming across the whitecaps 100m from shore, the North Coast school teacher passes within centimetres of the giant mammal, oblivious to the shadow beneath.

Picture: Incredible whale flails caught on camera

But just moments after this close encounter was captured by his sail-mounted camera, the whale flicked its tail and lashed him in the back of the head.

"It all happened so fast that all I could do was crouch down as the whale swam under me," Mr Sheridan, 42, said yesterday.

"Next thing I felt was its tail come up and hit me on the back of the head.

"I thought I was gone, but the force eased off and I sailed away with shaking legs."

Mr Sheridan was kiteboarding with two friends off Valla Beach, near Nambucca Heads, when the encounter occurred on October 26. The shots were snapped by a camera mounted on the kite 25m above the water, with frames taken every 10 seconds.

"I just set it up and attach it to my kite and just fire off as soon as I go," he said.

"It was just fortunate the whale came up under me and took a bend. It would have been nice to get it a second later when the tail came up and hit me in the back of the head, but you take what you get."

The whale appeared content to shoo him away, rather than lash out with any aggression.

"It was more of a push than a punch. I expected more," Mr Sheridan said.

National Parks and Wildlife Services spokesman Jeff Ross said the reaction was typical of southern rights, which were more unpredictable than humpbacks.

The whale may have had a calf it was protecting or was simply just reacting to the movement on the surface.

"It would have seen his presence overhead as a threat or it might have just been giving him a warning," he said.

"It would be a natural response for a whale to lash out with its flukes.

Mr Ross said the incident underlined the importance of whale restriction zones, which prohibit boats and watercraft coming within 100m of an adult and 300m from a calf.

"He's very lucky. He's still here to tell the story," he said.

"People have been killed by coming into contact with those flukes or at the very least have ended up with broken arms and legs.

"It's like being hit with a boat at full speed."

genek · Since 21 Jul 2006 2165 Posts East Po KGB

If it is real I wonder why he didn't go around or at least jump over the whale once he saw it?

pkh · Since 27 Feb 2005 6549 Posts Couve / Hood Honored Founder

Maybe he was trying to get close and ended up getting too close.

I could totally see it happening, a few of us got within 100 feet of humpbacks in Maui, and they were slapping their tails. That's when we decided to get back to shore (right before the wind died.)

100 feet is really nothing considering how big they are.

eli_anderson · Since 04 Jun 2007 507 Posts Addicted

tag your it, ive seen them in the surf here during late summer...that is a crazy pic

Gman · Since 11 Feb 2006 4911 Posts Portland Unstrapped

Should of just greased that slider

- I'm sure he saw it (ask Trevor)

- though I did have a pod swim under my SUP at Maui when I paddled out to see some whales - i kept about 50 yrds from some big ones, when another group swam right under me Shocked

chanson · Since 31 Jan 2006 1874 Posts WISCONSIN Chimey

Now that would be a legit "tail bonk" Twisted Evil

Windian · Since 28 Apr 2008 901 Posts Newport, OR NEWPORT OG

My second year kiteboarding back in 2001 I was kiting at one of the nameless spots between Cape Perpetua and Heceta Head on the central coast. I was about a half mile from shore and had just turned around and was headed back towards the beach. I was at pretty much cruising speed when a huge Grey whale surfaced directly in front of me as I was headed east and the whale was cruising north. There was no time to slow down or turn down wind so I just ran right up on top of the back of the beast while I was bringing my kite up towards neutral. At one point I was literally stopped on top of the whale standing on my board with my kite directly overhead. The animal smelled of all the pungent odors of the ocean and even spouted while I was scrapping across its back. Eventually it submerged and I was now riding over this huge whitewater boil which then turned into regular ocean chop as I continued east.

I rode staight to the beach to tell my buddy Ben about the encounter which at first he didn't believe, but eventually came around when he saw the barnicle scrapping on my board and fins. It was an incredible experience which I rank as one of my most intense ocean experiences. I would rather not do it again, but definitely enjoy seeing huge whales when out kiteboarding. Standing on top of a whale gives you an entirely new meaning to how large those animals really are compared to a human.

Gman · Since 11 Feb 2006 4911 Posts Portland Unstrapped

forrest · Mon Nov 10, 08 9:19 pm

We're 0-2 on positive exposure in the media.

tautologies · Since 24 Aug 2006 602 Posts Oahu Addicted

not to be a kill joy...there is a 100 YARD zone around all humpbacks in Hawaii...doesn't matter if you're on a kiteboard or even swimming...stay out of their way...

The humpbacks here are so surrounded by boats and people all the time that it isn't even funny, so please respect them and keep your distance...also I guess because they can lash out....

Nammy · Since 10 Nov 2008 1 Posts New Member

This is completely 100% true!
You know how i know...
Because he's the photography teacher at my school! HAHA! Laughing

i was speaking to him about it today.
he said he didnt even notice the whale until it hit him. even then he didnt know what it was.
then he looked at the photos later and saw!
Shocked

yes hard to believe he didnt see it but he's abit of an air head lol.
Good old sherro. Very Happy

Gman · Since 11 Feb 2006 4911 Posts Portland Unstrapped

Got to love the interweb...

that is awesome!!!

and yes 100 yards.

barfly · Since 31 Mar 2005 1216 Posts Portland BRACKISH

I've had a couple of memorable encounters w/Cal Greys too. Once Josh, Slither, Sasquatch and I were kiting a light wind day at Tolovana. Big surf and we had limited ability to get past the break but there were openings. A grey was feeding in and around the break, boils and a few fluke surfacings - pretty neato. I'll second the stink you smell Windian, I'll never forget it and now when I smell it, I look around for a sighting. There is nothing like being in the water with these guys.

Another sighting was at the Hammond S jetty. I saw spouts and headed out to "check it". I lost sight of the pod and went further out. Suddenly, there was a spout about 300yds in front of me. Far enough for comfort, so I kept on. Then I saw a back breach and the thing was obviously coming to check ME out and moving fast. I shit my wetsuit and jibed back to mommy Laughing

- I don't chase whales anymore.

Mark · Tue Nov 11, 08 8:50 am

pjc · Since 06 Mar 2005 649 Posts Addicted

blowhard, regi and myself were kiting at Florence a few years back when some whales started breaching. They where about as far out as the end of the jetty, some a bit farther as I recall.

I never got a good look as (silly me) when giant mammals start flinging themselves into the air my instinct is to keep away. while i sat on the beach hyperventilating, regi and blowhard cruised over for a closer look. don't think they ever did a "whale" slide, but they can chime in with their end of the story.

great day all around, one of my fav kiting memories Cool

blowhard · Since 26 Dec 2005 2027 Posts Windward

Sea mammals are great brothers of the water
3 days ago I snuck up on a seal while he was watching my kite,
touched his back ,such smooth coarse hair
afterwards I thought he could have swung around and bit me.(curious zombie)

Quite a few Dolphin encounters ,but none as big as those dudes in SPI

The thing that still seems weird is the Orcas
such ferocious killers and yet somehow they are not concerned with people.
One pod had about ten members the longest dorsal anyone had seen (10'?)
we didn't think they were Orcas at first
They hung for a couple days behind the jetty while the surfers were about 10 -20 feet from them.
Whales become passe after spending time on the Baja west coast
Humpbacks eyeballs are the size of basketballs Shocked

and stay upwind of thier breath Mad

But everytime I see Michael A. and those bite marks on his chest and thighs
I know who the boss is