Surfer who survived Great White attack divides internet after “near-decapitation” of learner surfer, “You could have really injured or even killed him just for your ego!”

“Kooks need to learn to paddle for the whitewater instead of being a selfish person and ruin people's waves."

The New Smyrna surfer Eric Geiselman has been alternately slammed, and praised, after posting a short clip where he ollies a learner surfer’s head after the VAL has the misfortune to be paddling over the shoulder of a wave Geiselman is riding.

“Where’s ya head at?” writes thirty-five-year-old Geiselman of his expertly executed jump.

 

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Fans and friends were divided, however, some lauding his dexterity and the lesson it served to a VAL who should’ve, theoretically at least, paddled towards the whitewater and to the shoulder of the wave while others were less kind.

For,

Jimmy Wilson, surf photographer: “Since the beginning of 2020, not one person has paddled towards the whitewater and attempted a duck dive.”

Raglansurf report, “That guy probably should’ve kept paddling instead of stopping in the lip I reckon.”

As well as,

“Kooks need to learn to paddle for the white water instead of being a selfish person and ruin people’s waves by paddling on the wall because they dont want to have a wave crashing on their dumb heads.”

“Love that Ollie bruv. It’s amazing how many looks actually think they fit in lineups. We got backpackers cluttering the lineups and roads down margs ATM after the Covid shit show.”

Against,

“Ollying a chicks head for a shit turn, wow, wouldn’t be showing that on the internet.”

“Horrible behaviour, this could have gone wrong and you could have really injured bad the guy or even have killed him just for your ego. Where is the example for the kids and the other surfer from those pro surfers? That’s why the line up are becoming so bad and full of people behaving super bad. A real man would have just gone straight and waste one of the 1000000000 waves you will get in your life and then speak with the guy in order to avoid this to happen again. But yes being a good surfer doesn’t mean necessary being a good person and this the end is all that matter in the life, good surfers is full out there, you are just one of the 1000. Hopefully you apologize to show this rubbish!”

“What about fins? And what about longboard surfers head? Do ya think it’s worth enough a wave for that risky trick? A longboard is not as easy to manage than a short board. Where’s the real surfing? Respect.”

“Should have archived this footy. Just promotes other entitled kids fortunate enough to grow up on the beach to send people to hospital. Lame, intentional and warrants a black eye.”

“Whoa. You almost injured someone badly and are proud enough to post. Bad attitude.”

“Seen some pretty serious fin caused injuries before soooooo yeah maybe don’t do that to someone.”

It’s a vexed issue, of course, and your opinion might be shaped by whatever has happened to you during your most recent surf experience.

Today, for instance, a gal dropped in on someone while I was paddling out and landed on my head after her feet failed to find the wax.

I surfaced amid the tangle of fibreglass and leash cord to be told to get out of her “fucking way.”

Yesterday, I’d be inclined to side with the happy soul on the shoulder; today less so.

You?

And do you remember, forgiven etc if you don’t etc ’cause it happened in 2009, when ol Ez was hit by a Great White in Santa Cruz? The footage below shows his busted board and shock immediately following the attack.