Close Call at Cabarita: Shark Misses, Gratitude Hits
Brad Ross was lining up a set at Cabarita Beach when a five-metre great white decided his board looked tastier than breakfast. The shark exploded out of the water, chomping a dinner-plate-sized chunk out of the tail and leaving Ross completely untouched but wide-eyed. As 9News reports, drones filmed the same shark cruising the lineup minutes later before it shook off a drum-line and vanished into the blue.
Ross took to Instagram with the understatement of the week: “the universe had different plans for me.” In a follow-up post he urged everyone to “hug your family and tell them you love them.” Hard to argue with that after seeing the bite mark—pure Jaws poster material.
San Clemente Draws a Line in the Sand for Olympic Surfing
While Ross was counting his lucky stars, San Clemente City Council was drawing its own line in the sand—this time in support of USA Surfing’s bid to run the 2028 Olympic show. The council unanimously passed a resolution backing the hometown nonprofit over rival U.S. Ski & Snowboard, writes the LA Times.
USA Surfing’s ace in the hole? Decades of International Surfing Association membership and a front-row seat at Lower Trestles, the very break slated for the Games. Their Utah competitor is pitching big bucks and Olympic expertise from winter sports, but the “Stop the Skijacking” crew (yes, that’s the campaign hashtag) is having none of it. With Paris gold-medalist Caroline Marks cheering from the channel, the battle for who steers surfing’s Olympic future just got personal.
Two stories, one reminder: the ocean giveth, the ocean remindeth, and every now and then the suits in city hall try to decide who gets to call the shots. Stay salty, stay safe, and keep your eyes on the horizon—and your board close at hand.