Breaking: Maui Event Postponed After “Shark Incident” Involving “Recreational Surfer”

Anyone watching the Pipe Trials just got a wild fright. 

In the middle of the broadcast, WSL CEO Erik Logan came on-screen to deliver breaking news: the women’s Honolua Bay event was being called off for the day in response to a “shark incident”. According to Logan, it was a “recreational surfer” (i.e. not someone associated with the event) who had been attacked. Logan proceeded to offer “thoughts and prayers” to the affected parties on behalf of the WSL. Then he was gone.  

UPDATE

We just spoke with Sage Erickson, who was in the water at Honolua when the incident occurred. Here’s what we learned:

This was at like 7:50 am at Keiki Bowls. We heard the guy screaming. It was a huge bite off the back of his thigh—like thigh and back of the leg. Based on the bite mark and the board, it was at least a 12-footer. They took the skis to get him—thankfully the skis were there. They got him and took him to the inside. They were doing compressions on him, but he wasn’t responding.

We’ve since learned that the surfer has been transferred to a local hospital and is in critical condition. He is apparently a local Maui surfer, around 50 in age.

Here’s his surfboard:

UPDATE

The WSL is holding a meeting with all the girls to decide what to do about the rest of the event.

Options include:

– cancel altogether

– cancel in Maui and maybe move to Oahu 

– stay in Maui and wait for the next swell

More info as it comes.

UPDATE

It’s been rumored that the women will finish their event at Pipeline. 

UPDATE

We’ve been told that the victim is in stable condition after undergoing surgery.