Two surfers have released footage capturing the harrowing experience of a four-metre shark stalking one of them across several kilometres of open ocean. Ron Takeda and Tavis Boyce were foil surfing off the coast of California when they became aware of a large predator tracking them from below, forcefully moving through the water and refusing to retreat.
Initial Hope Dashed
Takeda recounted that he initially hoped the dark shape beneath his board was harmless. "I heard noise. I looked back a couple of times. I finally saw the big, dark shape under my board," Takeda said. "I wanted to believe it was a dolphin, but I was pretty sure it was not a dolphin. There was white water. I couldn't see the tail."
As the shark drew nearer, Takeda shouted to his companion. "I yelled out to Tavis, 'Is it a dolphin?' and he said, 'No, don't fall'." The recorded footage captures the rising alarm as the predator continued its pursuit, with Boyce issuing warnings to his friend. "Whenever someone asks, 'Is it a dolphin?' it's never a dolphin," Boyce remarked.
Relief and Survival Strategy
Boyce later admitted he felt relieved the shark chose not to target him. "I do not regret letting Ron take the shark. He's way more confident on foil, and he didn't fall," Boyce said. Foil surfing involves riding a board attached to a hydrofoil, which lifts above the water's surface at speed, allowing surfers to glide over the ocean.
Takeda explained that he understood his survival depended on staying upright, as he continued foiling for an additional 19 kilometres with the shark trailing beneath him. "I knew my best bet was to stay on foil. I just did my best to tune everything out and concentrate on my foiling to not make any mistakes," Takeda stated. He mentioned that he only caught glimpses of the animal during the ordeal, spotting its dorsal fin and the white water from its tail, while its nose remained hidden directly under his board.
AI Claims Dismissed
As the footage circulated online, some claimed it had been doctored using artificial intelligence. When questioned about this, the pair refuted the allegations, asserting they "would never dream of putting something like that out." Despite the close call, the duo returned to the same location the following day for two additional runs.
