Overview
- Hydrofoil boards ride on an underwater wing that lifts the board above the surface, which lets riders travel far from shore.
- The close pursuit, recorded Saturday on a run from UC Santa Barbara toward Carpinteria about a mile off Leadbetter Beach, kept within inches of Ron Takeda's board.
- Companion Tavis Boise filmed the chase and said it lasted 10 to 12 minutes over more than two miles, with the shark estimated at 10 to 11 feet.
- The shark never struck, and after it peeled away the pair finished their 19‑mile route and returned to surf again on Sunday and Monday.
- Scientists say the species is unconfirmed but likely a juvenile white shark drawn by waters about 5 degrees warmer than usual, with El Niño expected to boost near‑shore sightings even as bites remain rare.