"I will never surf by myself here because it’s not
safe.”
Australia has a population of 25 million hearty
souls and three World Surf League Championship Tour
contests, the greatest of which is Margaret River there on the
continental island’s west side. Margs is scenic, has a variety of
waves and is filled to overflowing with sharks. Who could forget
last year when the event, brought to us all by Western Australia’s
tourism department, was cancelled due to nearby shark attacks and
resumed across the sea in Bali?
A wonderful moment for Western Australian tourism courtesy of
our World Surf League.
Well, everyone must have been very pleased with the bright light
shown on Uluwatu, very picturesque itself, because the contest has
been re-upped for the next three years and let’s read the Guardian. Let’s
really learn why.
The Margaret River Pro will remain on the World Surf League
schedule after it secured a contract extension until 2021, despite
last year’s shark scares. The 2018 event was called off midway
through the competition after two non-fatal shark attacks
nearby.
Alejandro Travaglini needed surgery to both legs after he
was attacked at Cobblestones beach in Gracetown, while Jason
Longgrass walked to an ambulance after he was bitten on the leg at
nearby Lefthanders break. The presence of beached whales in the
area attracted sharks and contributed to their aggressive
behaviour.
The Margaret River Pro’s future beyond 2019 was already in
doubt even before the shark attacks but the WA state government and
Tourism WA have put up the funds to secure a two-year contract
extension.
However, it remains to be seen whether the world’s best
surfers feel safe returning to Margaret River. After last year’s
nearby shark attacks, two-time world champion Gabriel Medina and
Brazilian Italo Ferreira expressed fears about entering the water
in Margaret River.
“I just don’t feel comfortable surfing there. I will never
surf by myself here because it’s not safe,” Medina said after the
attack while Ferreira tweeted at the time: “I do not feel
comfortable training and competing in places like this.”
So…. hypothetical here. What if 2018 World Champion and very
good friend of Neymar, Mr. Gabriel Medina, makes it to the quarters
and his opponent bows out midway with injury. Let’s just call his
opponent Kelly Slater and let’s say Kelly’s massively shattered
foot acts up and Gabriel Medina has to be out there alone.
Will he follow Kelly to the beach?
Will he qualify for the injury wildcard next year?
Many questions.