Shark attack off Broken Head

By Saffron Howden | 30th July 2009

A 14-year-old surfer was thrown into the air and left with a graze and a punctured wetsuit after a shark made a bee-line for his board this morning near Byron Bay.

The Northern Star understands the local boy, who was surfing off Broken Head, was paddling back out from the shore when he and the shark collided.

The impact caused the boy to fly into the air and his wet suit was swiped and punctured, leaving him grazed.

via Shark attack off Broken Head | NSW News | Byron Shire News.

Hello late evening folk,

A few more pics from the day on the north coast…

Graceful moment at the Pass this afternoon.

Seen at the Pass today.

Mostly nowhere near as good as this, but there were moments to be sure this morning.

Hello Friends,

Another postcard from the far north coast coming up. But first, a word about the prospects in Syd-a-knee. As Rob’s pics show, the swell has started to kick up. Latest data from the MHL buoy shows the primary direction to be SE and the average size to be a couple metres at about 8 seconds. However, there has been some very long period (14+ sec) component in the mix too. This is consistent with the computer models which have been calling for a brief, long-period pulse to hit overnight. So it seems to be here a bit early. Tomorrow the outlook is for the swell to weaken but for the wind to be more favourable than today.

Meanwhile outlook for the far north coast is for those SE winds that have made Sydney’s surf conditions pretty ordinary to turn up here and to do pretty much the same thing. Hoping against hope that the swell will get into protected spots and that there will be more water time to be had.

After this morning’s less that stellar surf, I had a few hours with the computer doing magazine stuff, before setting off for a visit to lovely Byron. Very small everywhere sadly. Still, for the keen and those equipped with a mal, there were options to be had. Scoped Broken Head for awhile, but it was pretty busy and gutless.
Figured that if the fate was gutless waves, we might as well hit the pass with everyone else in Byron. Waves were mostly in the knee to waist high range, but if you were lucky, you could jag one that would run and run (assuming you had a mal). 9/10ths of my waves featured at least one other person in front of me for all or most of the wave. That’s okay though. It was pretty easy to cruise along and I don’t mind the challenge of riding behind.

Came back to Lennox just after school had let out and the kids were onto the reefs out in front of town. Again, not brilliant conditions, but there were lots of little sections to be pounced on and enjoyed.

Have yourself a top old evening!

Lennox Head... waiting for the next swell to arrive...

Grom finds a fun section at Lennox reefs this afternoon.

Fun to be had inside Lennox Reefs this arvo.

Rock art in the sand at The Pass, Byron Bay

Technicolor tiny at Broken Head around midday.