A Surf Film From The Current Shark Attack Capital Of The Universe

You can read our entire piece on the South Australian shark crisis here.

“I saw a big splash of water and heaps of thrashing,” reported an eyewitness to the latest South Australian shark attack, who was standing in the car park.

“Blood started to go everywhere. My mate panicked and started punching the crap out of the horn, then everyone followed suit. The shark dragged him underwater for 100 metres. All you could see was his board skipping through the water, then it dropped him. We saw him float up to the surface, then the shark came back and smashed him again. Everyone was panicking — everyone in the water was screaming. It was horrible.”

Though New Smyrna Beach and neighboring Brevard County are statistically the shark-bite capitals of the world, nobody has died in an attack in either county. Over 15,000 km away, South Australia now has seen seven shark attacks and four deaths in twenty months — all carried out by Great White sharks nearing five meters in size.

Statistics may not be weighted by fear, but you tell us where you’d rather paddle out alone…

For a community tough as nails, this cluster of attacks has pierced deep. 

You can read our entire story on the crisis here.

In the 10-minute film above, South Australia local Luke Sykora and filmmaker Khyl McIntosh put a handful of empty South Australian lineups on display, begging the question — is ecstasy like this worth dangling your feet in the brine of death?

Shot through the course of the recent Southern Hemi summer, Harvest is proof that the smattering of world class lineups between Adelaide and the Nullarbor are there for the taking — tantalizingly empty, like siren song for dehydrated desert trolls. 

“This was filmed before and after the attack around New Years,” says Khyl. “That was fairly close to where we are. It’s the next peninsula over.

“It’s been pretty rattling I guess. The day that happened, me and Luke were shooting, and it was spooky out. It just felt like one of those days. We’re definitely thinking about it a bit more. I’m still swimming, but being a bit wiser — trying to always always surf with someone else. People have been a bit more cautious, and are sharing it on their stories if they a shark. Everyone’s really aware and trying to make sure crew are safe.”

Click above to watch the SA local in his element, and click here for a full breakdown of the current White Shark situation.