Shark Attack Fear?

[Dispatch]

Dispatch, you are going to have to face your fears.
When everything looks smells and is suspected of being the shark that is going to bite you, nothing you do in the ocean is going to feel comfortable.
You are talking yourself into being unable to surf, you could also recognise the recent polar bear attacks and the girl eaten by bears in Russia and that could stop you camping, automobile accidents cause exactly the same sort of injuries and many, many more deaths, does that stop you driving
As I see it, you have two choices, give in to your fears and forget about surfing, or accept that you are concerned about sharks and surf under conditions that minimize your chances of being attacked.
Surfing is about fun not terrification

Who says I'm talking myself out of surfing? What fears.... I posted this subject as a conversation piece, to see what others here have experienced and feel about being "out their". I have no more fear of being bitten than anyone else here. As a matter of fact, I probably have less being I was bitten about 10 years ago(non-surfing related obviously), and received 7 stitches to my right calf. Everyone is different, I'm curious about what others are thinking about when they get in the water, nothing more......

[jaffa1949]

Dispatch, you are going to have to face your fears.
When everything looks smells and is suspected of being the shark that is going to bite you, nothing you do in the ocean is going to feel comfortable.
You are talking yourself into being unable to surf, you could also recognise the recent polar bear attacks and the girl eaten by bears in Russia and that could stop you camping, automobile accidents cause exactly the same sort of injuries and many, many more deaths, does that stop you driving
As I see it, you have two choices, give in to your fears and forget about surfing, or accept that you are concerned about sharks and surf under conditions that minimize your chances of being attacked.
Surfing is about fun not terrification

Who says I'm talking myself out of surfing? What fears.... I posted this subject as a conversation piece, to see what others here have experienced and feel about being "out their". I have no more fear of being bitten than anyone else here. As a matter of fact, I probably have less being I was bitten about 10 years ago(non-surfing related obviously), and received 7 stitches to my right calf. Everyone is different, I'm curious about what others are thinking about when they get in the water, nothing more......

Simple I don't think of anything other than what and how I'm going to surf, and your come back is fair enough, once bitten twice shy, I was in a helicopter crash in New Guinea and I think a little about that but I still fly and like you I am now probably less likely to be a statistic of something similar happening again.
Your conversation starter has shown a lot of points about sharks.

[Dispatch]

To be honest, I'm anxious and excited to get started. I think I'm really going to enjoy this but just in case... better stock up on some supplies.......

[kitesurfer]

To be honest, I'm anxious and excited to get started. I think I'm really going to enjoy this but just in case... better stock up on some supplies.......

I'be already bought up all the stocks but might be able to sell a can or two. At a perfectly resonable price of course!

KS

[Dispatch]

Discovered another can of 'the good stuff' to keep them sharks away....

[billie_morini]

@ Dispatch: didja read the news about the 19 yr old surfer that got chomped at Crescent City, FL. That is unfortunate. Have you surfed there?

[Erika76]

I have to admit that I was scared of sharks for years. I wanted to surf so badly but I wouldn't even get in the water. The first day that I went to actually surf, I grabbed my board and walked out there and did it. It wasn't until the end of the day that I realized that sharks never even entered my mind. I was too focused on holding onto my board through the wash and then there was balance and getting knocked under waves lol. I had way too much on my plate to worry about sharks. I do think about them at home and I know that they are out there but the chance of being bitten really is slim. Look at your local statistics for where you live to make you feel better. I did that and found that there were less than a handful of attacks in years and even the ones that did happen were most likely just mistaken identity. They're not out there to get us. Just keep that in mind and try to enjoy yourself.