Multitrack Audio Script 

1 EMMA: As residents of Hawaii we are all aware of the dangers the ocean has to bring. Particularly when it comes to the sport favored by many here, surfing. I'm your host Emma Davidson and today we are gonna talk a little bit about the risks of surfing. 

 

(Natural Sound)

 

2 EMMA: On average, Hawaii has 7 to 8 shark attacks per year. Two weeks ago there was a shark attack here on Oahu, at Kewalos leaving a surfer with severe injuries. 

 

1 WIEGNER:  I only heard that it was a tiger shark and the guy lost his leg.

 

1 KAWAMAE:  Its tiger shark breeding time. So the tiger sharks are giving birth. When they give birth they are really hungry. So you have all these young tiger sharks running around, or swimming around just trying to figure out their territory. The thing that we’re all aware of is just you never know, it’s just random. If a shark attack happens it’s random. Because it’s not very often, especially in this area. We see sharks all the time but not a lot of shark attacks.

 

3 EMMA: While shark attacks are for the most part unavoidable and random, the question still lingers for surfers, do shark attacks change your view of the ocean or your motivation to do the sport you love? 

 

2 KAWAMAE: Zero change in my perspective. My perception of being a surfer, and also being native to hawaii, that's part of the nature and ecosystem we live in. We know it's there, but we love surfing so much we are gonna take those chances. Because it’s really rare that it happens. As a surfer, the way I look at it, somewhere on the south shore of Oahu, not many shark attacks compare to people getting run over in the crosswalk. It's not that we are taking our chances. It’s that we know that the probability of safety out there is less dangerous than actually being on the land with the general population of normal accidents.

 

1 DANE: Well you're way more likely to just have your fin cut you or something than a shark gets you. 

 

2 WIEGNER: The only thing that I'm afraid of I think is the reef. When I'm out in the water I don’t think about that. I’m really chill and I don’t think about anything. I live in a host family and they used to come surfing with me. When the shark attack happened they never came again. Everytime if it’s raining or if there is too much current. They say, oh maybe there are too many sharks. I don’t know, they are very afraid. 

 

4 EMMA: From what we can gather most surfers serious about their sport feel comfortable co-existing with the sea creatures. Especially because sharks for the most part are harmless to humans and are not looking to attack surfers. 

 

(NAtural Sound)

 

5 EMMA: Now let’s talk a little bit about how you can be careful in the water from a surfers perspective.  

 

3 KAWAMAE: Sharks victimize struggle, they are going after an easy target. So if you just stay calm and just paddle away.

 

2 DANE: I'm just visiting from Kawaii. Seems like we have more shark attacks. I mean you just go where they're not. You try to go to the low frequency spots. Dont be at their spot at their time.

 

1 MCCOLLOUGH: I saw a shark jump out of the water at Chun’s once. Like I said, just being more aware and vigilant of the world around me and what space I'm taking up. 

 

(Natural Sound)

 

6 EMMA: Coexisting with the ecosystem  is a very large part of the surf culture here on Oahu, and in Hawaii as a whole. Thankfully for us the chances of getting attacked compared to everyday risks are very low, and should not stop us all from participating in the sport we love, or from appreciating earth's beautiful oceans.