  |
 |
|
|
RUNNING WITH THE BULL SHARKS
Aussie Pro Nick Wallace is attacked in Costa Rica |
|
|
May 21, 2002 Aussie pro surfer Nick Wallace doesn't need to visit Spain. He recently found a much more formidable predator to lock horns with in Costa Rica, when he was attacked by a bull shark while surfing the fun, playful peaks of Playa Grande. The Sydney regularfoot -- who was in the country for the Quiksilver Airshow at Playa Hermosa -- headed north after the event for an extended surf vacation at the Playa Grande Inn. "On the day of the attack, it was about 4 feet, offshore and barreling," says Wallace. "I had been out about 20 minutes and had a bunch of good waves -- it was paradise. But then out of nowhere I was hit by what felt like a US missile heading for Bin fricken' Laden. I saw a flash of black as it slammed into me and bit into my board. The tail whipped around and created a huge splash.
"At the time, I thought it was a crocodile since Costa Rica is so known for those," Wallace continues. "It didn't knock me off my board, but it forced me up about a foot and then vanished. I turned to my buddy, Pat Bollinger, and said, 'Did you see that? Something just tried to kill me!' But he just thought I was freaking out over a jellyfish or something so he paddled off after another wave."
Convinced that it was something much larger than an angry jellyfish, Wallace headed to shore to inspect his board. Sure enough, there was a well-defined row of tooth-marks around the rail just above the fins. His trunks also had a few tooth-marks, but fortunately, the shark only bit into fabric and epoxy. "I wasn't bitten but the little f--ker's pointy nose drove right into my thigh and gave me the worst dead-leg," says Wallace. "I had a huge bruise, but I'm proud of it."
Local fisherman inspected Wallace's board and decided it was likely a 6- to 7-foot bull shark. Although bull sharks are known to be aggressive, attacks in the area are extremely rare. Realizing that lightning or sharks can't strike twice, Wallace figured he was in the clear and continued on to Witches Rock and other good breaks in the area. But not before he had a little payback that night at dinner. "I ordered up a fillet of fish," he laughs. "It was the best f---in' fish I've ever tasted."
|
|
|
|
;)
;)
