La Niña Southern Oscillation Brings Cold Water and Apex Predators to SB


Photo Source: User/member 'jonibebadd' of the SantaBarbarSurfer.com forums

With water temps as low as 50° in recent weeks, it should come as no surprise that we are now beginning to see signs of physical evidence corroborating reports of the presence of great white sharks in our local waters.  For several months now, shark warning flyers have been posted up at The Ranch, and some surfers have claimed them being nothing more than 'fear mongers'.  The above photo of an adult sea lion estimated at 300 lbs. was taken yesterday at Sands.  Judging by the diameter of the bite wound, there is only one animal that could be the culprit.  Please exercise caution when venturing into the surf as apparently the so-called 'Red Triangle' has shifted South by a few hundred miles, a byproduct of the cold water anomoly...

ISA: Americans Nail Fourth Place
Locals Coffin & Boelsterli Show Well Representing Santa Barbara

As Reported in the Santa Barbara News-Press

Montecito's Connor Coffin won his first nine repercharge heats at the ISA World Junior Surfing Championships before he was finally knocked out in the 10th on Saturday, falling one round short of the finals and the medal round in the Boys Under 16.

Coffin, 14, won five heats Friday and another four on Saturday, but he finished third in the 10th repercharge to France's Ian Fontaine and Hawaii's Matty Costa. The top two in the 10th heat advanced to the medal round.

Coffin's mojo may have been lost when his go-to surfboard was reportedly stolen before the final repercharge heat.

Australia won the team competition for the third straight year, mastering perfect four to six foot faces in Seignosse, France. Australia has won the event in four of its six years.

The gold in the Under 18 Boys was won by Brazil's Alejo Muniz, who exacted revenge by beating Australian Owen Wright after losing to him two years ago in the Under 16s. Tamaroa McComb of Tahiti won Under 16s and Australia's Laura Enever was crowned the ISA World Junior Girls Champion. Brazil finished second, followed by Hawaii and the U.S.

Enever led Australia to the title, although it wasn't decided until the final competition. Brazil and the U.S. were also in contention for a gold medal.

American Courtney Conlogue couldn't keep up with Enever or fellow Australian Tyler Wright in the final competition, finishing third in the Girls Under 18.

With the copper medal, the U.S. squad, under the leadership of first-year coach Joey Buran, improves on its fifth place showing from a year ago.

Dos Pueblos High senior Demi Boelsterli finished an equal 13th after being knocked from competition in one of the world's most prestigious youth surfing contests on Friday.

The Olympic-sanctioned event was considered a great success by Fernando Aguerre, the president of the ISA. He is optimistic that surfing will continue to grow and he is hopeful that the sport can be eventually included in the Olympics.

"Surfing is so alive and full of energy. ... I will continue on my campaign to get surfing into the Olympic Games. It is only a matter of time," Aguerre said.