Overview
- Two foil surfers traveling between UC Santa Barbara and Carpinteria recorded a large fin tracking close behind rider Ron Takeda as they moved offshore on hydrofoil boards.
- The video captures partner Tavis Boise shouting “Don’t fall” as the fin slices the surface behind Takeda, with reports differing on whether the pursuit lasted about five or about ten minutes.
- New reporting adds uncertainty about the shark’s identity, with one marine biologist saying the outline looks like a mako and another noting he has not seen a white shark maintain that behavior for so long.
- Scientists say warmer coastal waters linked to El Niño can pull juvenile white sharks closer to beaches, while California Fish and Wildlife data show confirmed shark bites remain rare.
- The pair finished their ride without injury and later posted a follow-up denying any AI fakery, and recent sightings elsewhere in Southern California led to brief beach closures in Huntington Beach.