"Sydneysiders are ingrained with surfing and beach activities as part of their life and it does feel like a piece of you gets stripped away when something like this happens, says lifelong Sydney surfer Matt Chojnacki. After three attacks in quick succession, the big wave surfer and coach decided to leave the city to find what he hoped would be less risky waves to the north."
"At the moment, I'm less scared of surfing the biggest waves in the world than I am of shark attacks on my local beaches. No one's surfing today. I've cancelled everything. There's a sudden shock because surfing, as much as it's a sport, is actually part escapism. It's the feeling of being immersed in a changing environment that makes surfing so serene"
Four shark bite incidents in New South Wales within 48 hours, three occurring near Sydney, injured people including children and a young adult. The incidents happened at Vaucluse, Dee Why and Manly, prompting heightened alarm across coastal communities. Experienced surfers reported cancelling sessions, leaving the city, and feeling disturbed by the sudden shock to a long-standing beach culture. Surfing’s appeal as escapism and immersion in changing ocean conditions has been undermined by fears of violent shark encounters. The cluster of attacks caused immediate behavioral changes among ocean users and increased local anxiety around beach activities.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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