🏄‍♀️ How to avoid surfing with a shark 🦈

👋 Happy Shark Week! It’s our first one at The Wipeout Weekly and we’re so excited! Well… we wouldn’t be as excited if we encountered the man in the gray suit in the actual lineup—so we’re gonna dial that enthusiasm down a notch. 😬

P.S. Did you know The Wipeout Weekly has a mascot? See our logo! Meet Jaws “JJ” Junior. 🦈💕 

🏄‍♀️ Let’s surf:

• How to avoid surfing with a shark 🦈

• San Juan del Sur is a shark-free zone 🚫🦈

• Surfing with boils 🕳️

• This week’s news is a bit sharky 🦈

• Surf events calendar has arrived 🗓️

• You can surf, and keep your hair 💇🏽‍♀️

^SURFODRAMA

 😱 How to avoid surfing with a shark 🦈

Do you know that statistic that you’re more likely to get killed while driving to the beach than from a shark attack? But don’t be lulled into a false sense of security. Between 2012 and 2021, there were 761 total shark attacks worldwide, of which 60 were fatal.

According to the International Shark Attack File (ISAF), 72% of unprovoked attacks involve surfers or board riders. That means roughly 43 out of 60 shark-related deaths during that period were likely surfers or bodyboarders—five a year. That’s still a pretty terrifying statistic if you ask me.

🏄‍♀️ So what can you do?
Okay, so what can you do so it doesn’t happen to you? The most obvious solution would be just not to go out into the water. But given that’s not a workable option, you may want to choose surfing not in Australia, South Africa, California, Hawaii—you know, all the fun places with all the best waves.

Oh, and Reunion Island. What? Never heard about Reunion Island? Neither have I. 😂 It’s in the middle of the Indian Ocean, just east of Madagascar. And it’s home to St. Leu, one of the world’s premier left-hand reef breaks—as well as the spot with the most deadly shark attack statistics in modern surfing history, accounting for 16% of global fatal shark attacks. Surfing was even temporarily banned due to a spike in bull shark and tiger shark attacks. But you know… surfers.

You may also want to stay away from Florida. Last year, we had 47 unprovoked bites—over half of them happened in the U.S., and exactly half of those happened in Florida. That’s like 14 of those. New Smyrna Beach has the moniker of the shark bite capital of the world. Just four days ago, a shark bit an 18-year-old surf instructor on the foot. The injury is said to be nasty but not life-threatening. That was already the fourth shark encounter in Volusia County this year—because just two weeks before that, another surfer got bitten by a shark while surfing in Florida City. Fun.

🦈 Why sharks bite surfers
If you end up surfing in waters patrolled by the men in gray suits, it’s useful to know why they may even be interested in you.

Because it’s not as if sharks attack surfers on purpose. Neoprene is not particularly tasty. In most cases, it’s a case of mistaken identity, curious investigation, or pure confusion. Poor wee confused sharks.

From below, a surfer on a board can resemble a tasty seal—or maybe a delicious turtle—especially in murky water and in low light (that happens at dawn and dusk). If you’ve ever seen drone footage comparing seal and surfer silhouettes, they’re shockingly similar.

Sometimes, sharks are just curious—they like to explore and “test” unfamiliar objects with their mouths (because they don’t have hands LOL). This is why many attacks are one bite only. The shark usually lets go after realizing: “not food, not yummy.”

If you’re unlucky enough to find yourself where there’s lots of fish at the time when sharks are due their dinner, they may go into feeding mode. And nibble on ya.

🤨 What to do when you see a dorsal fin
Some of this advice is pretty common sense. Some of this is new information!

First: stay calm. No splashing—that mimics prey. Get fully on top of your board so your limbs aren’t dangling. And keep eye contact if possible, so the shark cannot surprise you. Apparently, great whites and bull sharks have been known to abandon an approach if they know they’ve been seen. Smart fishes.

Needless to say, if you can, warn others quietly—no panic. Paddle to the shore as smoothly as you can, and get out of the water.

If you end up in a fight with a shark, it’s good to know that their most sensitive areas are: their eyes, snout, and gills.

What else to avoid… surfing alone, obviously, because no one will hear you scream or drag you onshore.

This I didn’t know: wearing yellow or orange—that sharks are attracted to. And shiny jewelry. According to National Geographic, sharks can mistake shiny objects for fish scales.

Oops. Taking my earrings off immediately!

^{SURF SPOT SPOTLIGHT}

San Juan del Sur is a shark-free, beginner-full zone

Welcome to San Juan Del Sur, Nicaragua—where you can surf all morning, eat tacos all afternoon, and watch the sun set over the Pacific every night. And you don’t have to worry about sharks. 🦈

San Juan Del Sur itself isn’t the main surf break—but it’s your hub for accessing some of the most beginner-friendly beaches in Central America. From Playa Remanso to Playa Hermosa, you’ll find plenty of gentle waves and a laid-back vibe that makes learning feel way less intimidating.

🌊 The surf
Remanso is your go-to beginner spot—soft, rolling waves with an easy channel for paddling out. Hermosa is just a bit further south and offers longer rides and fewer crowds. If you’re feeling adventurous, Playa Maderas has punchier waves that are still manageable on small days. Most beaches have both lefts and rights, sandy bottoms, and lots of room to spread out.

🚿 Water quality
It’s mostly clean, but rainy season runoff can bring some murkiness and debris, especially near river mouths. Dry season (Nov–April) is your safest bet for clear water. Always check local surf schools or lifeguards for the day’s conditions.

👙 Wardrobe
Warm water year-round means you can leave the wetsuit at home. Boardies or a bikini and a rash guard are perfect. If you’re prone to sunburn, consider a surf hat—this sun does not play.

☀️ Best time for beginners to go
November through April is dry season—smaller, cleaner waves and consistent offshore winds. May to October brings bigger swells and occasional storms, but early mornings often stay glassy.

⚠️ Hazards
Most of these beaches are beginner-friendly, but watch for strong rips at low tide (especially at Maderas). Jellyfish can show up in rainy season, and occasionally stingrays hang out in the shallows—shuffle your feet when you walk out.

🏄 Rentals + lessons
San Juan Del Sur has loads of surf schools and board rentals. At Remanso and Hermosa, you’ll find instructors right on the beach. Chica Brava offers women’s surf retreats, and Casa Oro can set you up with lessons and shuttles. Boards rent for about $10–15 a day.

🍉 When you’re not surfing

• Hike to the Christ of the Mercy statue for panoramic views of the bay

• Grab fresh tacos or smoothie bowls in town

• Hop on a sunset cruise or join the famous Sunday Funday pool crawl (if that’s your thing)

• Visit Playa El Coco or Playa Yankee for a quieter beach day

🧳 Solo friendly?
Absolutely. San Juan Del Sur is popular with solo travelers, digital nomads, and backpackers. It’s easy to meet people in hostels, surf camps, or cafés, but you can also stay just outside town for a quieter vibe. Whether you want to surf, chill, or party, you’ll find your tribe here.

^{WORD OF THE WEEK}

🕳️ Boils are bad for foils

I always wanted to say this: Let’s talk about boils. 😂

You’re paddling out, scanning the surface—or not—when you notice a weird patch of water ahead, like it’s bubbling or swirling in place. That’s called a boil. And if you’ve never paid much attention to them, you probably should.

In surfing, a boil is a disturbance on the water’s surface, a circular pattern between 3 and 15 feet long, caused by something underneath, like a rock, a reef, or just a different shape of the seabed in that spot.

A boil forms when water passes over those irregularities and currents push water upward. It might look like bubbling or swirling patterns. When it’s choppy, it may look the opposite—glassy. Sometimes even like a little “dome” of water rising and falling.

⚠️ Why should you care about boils?
They can tell you a lot about what’s happening under your board:

• Hazard warning: If you see a boil consistently appearing in the same spot, there could be a shallow rock or reef lurking just below the surface. That’s a big deal, especially if you’re riding at low tide.

• Wave behavior: A sudden rise in the sea floor will cause a wave to pitch or steepen quickly—sometimes forming a hollow section or throwing a barrel. If you see a boil, expect the wave to behave differently as it hits that spot.

They do have their advantages. Boils can help you line up. At many reef breaks, surfers use boils as landmarks, you know: “Take off just to the left of that boil.” or “When the boil moves closer, the set is about to peak.” Both Waimea Bay in Hawaii and Todos Santos in Mexico feature boils near the takeoff zone.

Stay safe! I’m going boil hunting. 🌊

^{THE WIPEOUT WEEKLY SURF NEWS ROUNDUP}

Just a few shark—sorry, news—bites! 🦈

• Florida: A shark bites an 18-year-old surf instructor on the foot.

• Massachusetts: The largest great white shark ever recorded has been spotted off Nantucket.

• Canary Islands: A UK hydrofoil surfer gets attacked by a mako shark.

• California: The 2025 US Open of Surfing kicks off July 26 in Huntington Beach. Better not be any sharks!

👉 Read the full news roundup

^{SURF EVENTS CALENDAR}

🚀 The Wipeout Weekly Surf Events Calendar has arrived!

🗓 Saturday, August 3, 9am—11am
📍 South Side, Oceanside Pier, California
👯‍♀️ Women’s Surf Meet-Up organized by Kyla Peterson
💵 Free

All girls meet-up! No coaching, all levels welcome. If there’s a south swell with currents pushing strong north towards the pier, the meet-up will re-locate to the North Side.

🗓 July 26 – August 3
📍 Huntington Beach, California
🏄 The US Open of Surfing by WSL
💵 Free

The WSL’s Challenger Series and World Longboard Tour by the Huntington Beach Pier, and more.

_{P.S. If you would like your event featured in our newsletter—for free—just reply to this email and pitch us. Free events only, please!}

^{WEE PROMO CORNER}

💇🏽‍♀️ You can surf, and keep your hair!

We love supporting female founders of surf businesses from our community—and we hope to do it on a larger scale in the months to come. Let’s build this new, community-driven surf economy together! 🌺

One of our own, Brittany Jones, is a professional hairstylist, diver, sailor, and a Girl Who Can’t Surf Good behind a brand-new surf haircare line: Coconut Smuggler. After watching saltwater literally destroy her hair, she created a range of reef-safe products—including a super lightweight pre-ocean spray, a post-ocean leave-in, and…a roll-on perfume, because all this stuff smells incredibly delicious.

Brittany shares her discovery process: “We tried the waxes. We tried the balms. But the best way to protect hair in saltwater is to mimic its natural lipid layer. So that’s what we did. Now, my hair looks and feels better after a surf than before I went in.”

👉 Check out the Coconut Smuggler goodies and use our exclusive discount code: GWCSG20 for 20% off.

👉 And if you’re interested in Yoga for Surfers courses by Inessa Love that we featured last week, you can now use a discount code GIRLS.

_{P.S. If you’d like your product or service featured in our newsletter—for free—just reply to this email and pitch us.}

⬆️ Aaaaaaand that was the last wave of the week!
If a friend forwarded this and you liked it, hit subscribe & join us! We will see you all next week! 🌊

^HOUSEKEEPING

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