The Gold Coast Pro surfing competition was briefly paused at Snapper Rocks this afternoon when a 1.5 to 2-meter shark was spotted in the competition lineup. The sighting prompted officials to put the quarterfinals on hold for 20 minutes to ensure the safety of the competitors.
The safety of surfers has always been a top priority in any surfing competition, and this pause in the competition is a testament to the organisers’ commitment to ensuring the safety of all involved.
Organisers quickly pulled surfers from the lineup and then commenced searching the lineup and followed the creature out of the competition area after 20 minutes of scanning the lineup, they resumed the quarter-final between J Couzinet and T Bisso.
Sharks aren’t all that common in the waters off the Gold Coast, but it’s not unusual for surfers to spot them during a surf.
The pause in the competition allowed officials to assess the situation and determine the best course of action. After the 20-minute delay, the competition resumed, and the surfers were back in the water.
