NATIONAL NEWS - Surfers competing in Round Three of the Men’s division of the Tigers Milk Surf Classic at Muizenberg Corner were called out of the water at about 3.15 pm today (Saturday) when a shark was spotted in the area.
The Shark Spotters sounded the alarm and the white warning flag was raised and within minutes the popular surf spot was cleared of all activity.
After about an hour the Red Flag was raised, which signifies that a shark had been sighted and that surfers could enter the water at their own risk.
Due to the shark sighting Surfing South Africa and the contest organisers called a premature halt to the days surfing and the final day of competition will get under way at 7.30am tomorrow (Sunday).
In order to make up for the early shut down the final day’s heats will be cut from 20 minutes to 15 minutes.The eight finals will be 20 minutes long.
The unique multi discipline Tigers Milk Surf Classic got off to a brisk start in difficult onshore conditions but this did not seem to worry the contestants who made the most of the strong south easterly swell.
The judges and commentators usually bear the brunt of the elements but in this event they were able to assess the surfers rides from the luxury of the Tigers Milk restaurant, certainly a first for a South African contest.
