On Monday I published a post about kiteboarder Jason Lasser and his unexpected encounter with a Spinner shark in Palm Beach Inlet.
This was the result of the encounter:
Jason Lasser's foot after being bitten by a Spinner shark.
After having his foot surgically repaired, and after having a few days to think about what happened and examine the damage to his kiteboard, Jason has come to a new understanding of the nature of his encounter.
Initially, he thought he probably just collided with the shark by accident and that the shark meant him no harm, and that the damage to his foot was a result of a brush with the shark’s mouth rather than an actual intentional bite. However, an examination of his board and a recollection of the number of sharks in the water and their behavior has led him to believe that he was actually bitten “on purpose.”
The evidence:
Here Jason poses with his bandaged foot next to the foot strap that his foot was in. Obviously his bandaged foot won't fit into the strap for this picture.
Above, Jason has his foot next to the strap that it was in when the bite happened. He was riding “goofy foot,” which means his right foot was forward. So in this photo, his direction of travel was to the right. Does anyone note the irony of the shark images on the kiteboard?
Jason writes:
Just got my board after thinking it might have some evidence and holy *&%$@! The straps saved me from his upper or lower bite! Look at the damage, the straps totally saved me!
Riding right foot forward (goofy foot) on my toe-side edge as I was bottom turning to go up the face of a wave (breaking East to West) – Crossing the Palm Beach Inlet.
The water was dark with sharks (50% water color and the other half dark grey).
My gut told me I got hit from the right, not from the breaking wave on my left, those sharks swimming under me were going my speed and direction. I’d said to myself “that’s odd, they usually scatter” – they WERE hunting!!
Jason places his forefinger and thumb where the shark's teeth ripped into his foot straps. Just below his thumb is where the injury to his foot occurred.
Inlets, naturally, are a favorite place for sharks to hunt, since the strong currents move a lot of bait fish during tidal changes. So there’s no surprise that the sharks were actively hunting.
We’re glad Jason was able to get back to shore before his blood attracted the sharks to him. As you may recall, not long ago another kiteboarder was not so lucky.
Another view of the damage to the kiteboard foot strap done by the Spinner shark.
Thanks again to Jason for sharing his “adventure” with us.
Still, I’m thinking Jason harbors no ill will toward the sharks, and will probably be right back in the water as soon as he can.
Am I right, Jason?
