A truly surreal scene unfolded over the weekend off of Santa Barbara, California when a group of foil surfers were chased by a massive shark. They were completing a 20-mile downwind ride from UCSB to Carpinteria when the large shark popped up right behind one of the surfers and displayed extremely curious behavior.
The shark repeatedly sped up and slowed to, appearing to graze the foil surfer several times. All of this took place while one of the other surfers in the group was filming and captured several minutes of the encounter on camera.
California Foil Surfer Chased By Huge Shark
For context, a typical foil board is 5′ to 9′ long. The one in the video appears to be on the longer side, at least 6′ but likely over 7′ or more.
Seeing that shark next to it, it’s clear the shark is larger than the board itself and that must’ve turned that surfers stomach into liquid in an instant. I’m sure it did not help that the guy filming tells him “don’t fall in” as if he needed that advice. The last thing he’d ever want to do in that moment was wind up in the water…