Good afternoon! Please read this email.


Well I'm sitting in mid 30degree heat here in Perth and psyching up for the first race of the surfski world series, THE DOCTOR. This year we will be racing from the mainland to Rottnest Island as opposed to going the other way. It seems it's going to be a bit flatter than we're used to. I'm here with Jasper, Hank McGregor and Ryan Louw from PE.


SHARK ATTACK.
Before I give you my view of Tuesday's events (- which I ask you to PLEASE READ -) out of respect for the victim's family and adherence to the authorities: THERE WILL BE NO PADDLING THIS SATURDAY.


So, it was quite weird and slightly frightening hearing about the shark attack on Fish Hoek beach. Six years ago I was also in Perth for this race when a shark appeared in the middle of a surfski school class. The last fatal shark attack on Fish Hoek beach happened only weeks before in November. The feeling I experienced then was of complete shock and surprise as it was totally unexpected and out of the ordinary. Yet I knew that things on my home beach would never be the same again. What has followed for me has been 6 years of apprehension hiding just below the surface of a very thin veneer of hope. A hope that maybe Tyna Webb's passing was an anomaly of sheer uniqueness, a once off event never to happen again. Below that veneer of hope has been a foundation of prayer and faith based on Job 5:23 that I "will have a covenant with the stones of the field, and the wild animals will be at peace with" me. If I have prayed it once, I have prayed it a 1000 times that those close to me and those within my care and under my guidance will be far from such a tragedy. From that day I resolved to believe what I asked for while simultaneously: taking every precaution; to not be reckless or flippant; and to assess each day and each paddle session with the knowledge that the worst could happen despite my efforts.


Since then we've operated our sessions without incident. The closest other events were Lyle Maasdorp loosing the back of his surfski and, sadly, a spear fisherman loosing his life at Millers Point. Other than the proximity of those two (by no means small) events, surfski school sessions have been completely shark free. I humbly thank God for that and completely give him glory for keeping us safe.


Tuesday's attack was like a bomb in my head and my heart. Literally, my ears were ringing and my eyes struggled to focus. On hearing the news I dropped my head in my hands and almost cried. A let out a silent prayer for the victim and his family and then tried to process the magnitude of what had happened and of course the ensuing consequences. I am deeply grieved for those close to the victim as well as those who had to witness it. I am also concerned for those who assume the care of bather safety and who will no doubt be shouldering a hefty feeling of guilt despite being completely unable to intervene. I am saddened by the reputation that I'm sure Fish Hoek beach must be getting and desperately want to promote its safety although I know that I would be laughed at right now. To be completely honest, I actually do not know what to say or how to act as I (ignorantly) thought that we were in the clear. I let my guard down during the last 4 years of non event and now I'm reeling. As from Tuesday, as far as I'm concerned, awareness of shark attacks will be a priority for me until the day I leave Fish Hoek.


What does this mean? This means taking action and precaution. Firstly it means adherence to safety structures that are already in place and secondly it means an added effort against, and awareness that, another encounter is very plausible. How we roll out such an effort will require some planning and investment but rest assured that I will continue to keep the safety of those in my care as my highest priority. However there is another more important precaution to take: Acceptance.


But perhaps the most pertinent measure I will be taking against a shark encounter will be acceptance. I admit that previously I was unwilling to completely accept the presence of sharks and the reality of the changed behaviour in sharks in False Bay. Acceptance means that now, along with everything I love about paddling: being in the ocean, going downwind, catching waves, seeing the coast on windless days, training and keeping fit, and experiencing nature; acceptance means awareness of the ocean's pecking order. And humbly assuming my vulnerability within that order. This acceptance however does not mean that I will be taking up another sport. I will always paddle and will always promote it. Although this creature is faster, stronger and more adept than I am, I am certainly not going to let a fish dictate my life. A big hungry fish I concede, but still a fish, and a fish that I will be looking out for next Wednesday when I get back and go for a paddle.


Please, as highly valued clients of VarsityCollege Surfskischool, please be aware that your safety and your surfski experience is our highest and primary priority and that it will continue to be so.


See you....ON THE BEACH!

Dawid