This Shark Leash Is The Most Desirable Surf Tech In The World Right Now!

The streets of Torquay and Jan Juc are abuzz right now. It’s not about a warm wetsuit, or the Sci-Phi or even about stealing Micro Hall as a coach. Instead, surfers are lining up for something much smaller.

Everybody’s searching for light under surfing’s biggest shadow; We all knew sharks were there – most of us have seen one at some point, maybe even known someone who wore a direct hit. And then there’s all the media hysteria. But when Mick Fanning splashed behind that J-Bay wave, it became fucking real – especially for the top 34. World Tour surfers are wildly superstitious at best, but seeing one of their own nearly taken – especially live, at a World Tour stop – was a new realm.

And it’s for this reason that, as the Dream Tour now rolls into the shark capital of Australia, aka West Oz, a lot of pros are scrambling to acquire one particular piece of surf tech (most of whom don’t even ride for the company that makes it).

The company? Modom. The tech? A leash with shark-deterring capabilities.

Now, they’re certainly not the first to create such a thing. But according to rumour, their test results will change the game. Stab’s intel: When attached to a fake leg made from raw meat, bull sharks are reported to have thrown it in reverse two metres from the leash. Without the leash attached, they mauled the leg.

What else do you need to know?

Taj Burrow is a West Oz native and a Modom team rider. You can be certain he’ll be wearing the leash.

Photography

WSL/Kelly Cestari

Here’s some extras anyway: There’s no electronics to break, and no batteries to go dead (the tech involves magnets). And yeah, it’s a bulkier ankle piece, but who gives a fuck? The thing still weighs under 100 grams and certainly isn’t impeding any performance.

Currently, only Modom team riders have the leashes (and their iPhones have been ringing hot!), with the exception of two non-teamers: Kelly Slater, who’s said to have been wearing one whilst scoring on the side in Victoria, and WSL Commissioner Kieren Perrow, who’s also rumoured to have one. And, talk is that every surfer on tour will be offered use during the Jeffrey’s Bay Open, as part of the WSL’s Risk Management Solution.

When we called Modom, they were tight lipped about the product: “We’re releasing some new technology to market that we’re really excited about.”

Oh, and, full disclosure: Modom didn’t give us a cent for what you read here (yes, we’d tell you). We’re just fucking thrilled to have something that’s potentially effective at discouraging sharks.

Photography

Margies. The lion’s den, some might say. Absolutely safe, others will assure you. Either way, a shark-deterring leash ain’t hurting anyone. WSL/Kirstin Scholtz