Ocean Stories: The Good, The Scary, and The Sustainable
The ocean is a place of incredible beauty and, sometimes, intense unpredictability. For those of us who spend our time chasing waves, we know that every day in the water is a new chapter in our personal surfing story. This week gave us a few new chapters to talk about, from a heart-pounding survival story to an inspiring look at the future of the industry and the personal battles we face.
Let's start with the one that will have you checking the lineup twice. At a surf break in D'Estrees Bay, South Australia, local surfer and tour guide Lee Berryman, 57, had a run-in that would make anyone think twice about paddling out. According to reports, a bronze whaler shark was chasing a group of seals when one cleverly darted behind Berryman, turning him into an unwilling decoy. The shark took the bait, biting Lee twice on the leg. 'I have turned around and his nose is right near me,' Berryman told Carve Magazine. 'I actually did not want to punch him in the mouth. I was getting him in the side because I didn't want to go anywhere near those teeth. And I just yelled out, 'Shark!' I just knew that I couldn't sit there so I just kept punching it until he let go.' Lee managed to fight the predator off, paddle to shore, and even drive himself to the hospital where he received 50 stitches for his wounds. He’s recovering, and if you ask us, he deserves a serious trophy for coolest under pressure.
While that story is all about surviving the wild side of surfing, other stories this week are about the quiet battles that happen far from the waves. Eighteen-year-old phenom Sierra Kerr, daughter of former pro Josh Kerr, revealed that she has been fighting a very different kind of battle this year. The innovative aerial specialist has been sidelined by Lyme disease, a bacterial infection transmitted by ticks that left her unable to stand on a surfboard or even lift her legs for months. 'I got really sick and was hospitalized in Australia with neurological and GI symptoms,' Kerr said. 'From February through April, I was out of the water completely.' After being misdiagnosed initially, Kerr is now on the mend, focusing on physical therapy and light training. She's already back in the competitive mix, winning the Stab High event in Japan. Her message is powerful: 'I'm hungrier than ever and confident I'll be back to being me soon.' It's a powerful reminder of the resilience required to be a surfer, a resilience that extends far beyond the ocean's surface.
Speaking of resilience, let's talk about the future of surfing and how we can protect it for generations to come. On the East Coast, a young surfer and entrepreneur named Kit Keating is using her business degree to do just that. In her Long Beach Island hometown, Kit founded RenewBluSurf, a company dedicated to making surfing more sustainable. Driven by a lifelong love for the ocean and her family's tradition of cleaning the local shores, Kit saw a problem: surfers' passion for the environment wasn't matching up with their gear. 'I want to make sure that we're protecting (locals') natural habitat, which is the No. 1 priority,' Keating said. RenewBluSurf answers that call by selling 100% organic cotton apparel and eco-friendly accessories like bamboo wax combs, all emblazoned with the motto 'protect the locals.' It's a fantastic example of how passion for the sport can directly fuel positive change for the planet.
From an Aussie fighting off a shark with his fists, to a teenage champion fighting to get back on her board, to a college student fighting for cleaner oceans, this week’s stories show the incredible breadth of the surfing experience. It’s more than just catching waves; it's about grit, passion, and a deep connection to the blue.