As the men's Samsung Galaxy Championship Tour looks forward to Stop No. 6, the J-Bay Open, an unusual visitor was spotted in the Supertubes lineup last week.
According to JBayNews.com, the conditions at J-Bay were small and no surfers were present when a massive fin emerged from the water.
Get ready for racing walls of perfection off the wild coast of South Africa as the world's best clash in the J-Bay Open.
"It turned out to be an orca (also known as a killer whale) and was about 10 meters in length. It was a massive fish and if anybody had been surfing, they would have got a huge fright," local surf photographer Robbie Irlam told JBayNews. Irlam was able to snap a photo of the orca before it disappeared beneath the surf.
While orcas are present throughout South Africa, they are rarely seen at Jeffreys Bay, a spot known mostly for its shark population. However, this isn't the first time these creatures have found themselves outside their natural habitats. A busy lineup of surfers in Uluwatu, Indonesia were surprised when an orca fin emerged near them last September. Several more were spotted just a month later in Oceanside, Calif., as well.
Orcas have been a topic of discussion within the surf world lately. In early June Kelly Slater (USA) released a statement on behalf of the non-profit PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) regarding orcas in captivity. Slater also collaborated with RVCA artist Kevin Ancell earlier this year for a series of orca inspired boards.
Kelly Slater shows off his orca-inspired surfboard design. - WSL
Although orcas are the top predators in the marine ecosystem, attacks on humans are extremely rare.
The J-Bay Open has an event window of July 8 - 19, 2015, and will be LIVE here and on the WSL app.
Wildlife Spotted in J-Bay Lineup
James Royce
As the men's Samsung Galaxy Championship Tour looks forward to Stop No. 6, the J-Bay Open, an unusual visitor was spotted in the Supertubes lineup last week.
According to JBayNews.com, the conditions at J-Bay were small and no surfers were present when a massive fin emerged from the water.
"It turned out to be an orca (also known as a killer whale) and was about 10 meters in length. It was a massive fish and if anybody had been surfing, they would have got a huge fright," local surf photographer Robbie Irlam told JBayNews. Irlam was able to snap a photo of the orca before it disappeared beneath the surf.
While orcas are present throughout South Africa, they are rarely seen at Jeffreys Bay, a spot known mostly for its shark population. However, this isn't the first time these creatures have found themselves outside their natural habitats. A busy lineup of surfers in Uluwatu, Indonesia were surprised when an orca fin emerged near them last September. Several more were spotted just a month later in Oceanside, Calif., as well.
Orcas have been a topic of discussion within the surf world lately. In early June Kelly Slater (USA) released a statement on behalf of the non-profit PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) regarding orcas in captivity. Slater also collaborated with RVCA artist Kevin Ancell earlier this year for a series of orca inspired boards.
Although orcas are the top predators in the marine ecosystem, attacks on humans are extremely rare.
The J-Bay Open has an event window of July 8 - 19, 2015, and will be LIVE here and on the WSL app.
J-Bay Open
Ronnie Blakey, Peter Mel and Ross Williams discuss the rough starts of Kelly Slater and Gabriel Medina in 2015.
After his encounter with a shark during the J-Bay Open, Mick Fanning spoke to a number of media outlets clamoring for information.
After an abrupt end at J-Bay, see who's up -- and who's down -- heading into Tahiti.
The contest with a harrowing finale had music behind the maneuvers.
US fans can catch all the action and terrifying finale of the 2015 J-Bay Open on ABC's World of X Games at 3 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT.
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