Foil Boarders Escape Five‑Minute Great White Pursuit, Video Hits 1M Views

*TL;DR: Two foil boarders outran a 13‑foot great white shark for five minutes off Santa Barbara, and their video has surpassed one million views.*

Context

Retired engineer Ron Takeda and videographer Tavis Boise were foil‑boarding a 20‑mile stretch near the University of California, Santa Barbara when a large silhouette appeared behind them. Foil boards use a submerged wing that lifts the rider above the water, creating a smooth, low‑profile ride that can resemble a stingray from below.

Key Facts

- The animal, later identified by NOAA experts as a great white shark, measured about 13 feet long. - Boise captured the encounter on his phone; the shark followed Takeda at roughly 10 mph for about one minute before the chase extended to five minutes total. - During the pursuit Boise shouted, “Don’t fall!” and later warned, “Oh my God, it’s coming for you!” - The video, titled “Friendly Shark Chase,” quickly spread on social media, exceeding one million views within days. - Both surfers have prior shark encounters but never experienced a prolonged chase. Takeda stayed upright on his foil board, focusing on balance rather than the predator, while Boise kept a safe distance and later reunited with Takeda a few miles offshore. - NOAA scientists confirmed the creature’s species and size, supporting the surfers’ assessment.

What It Means

The incident highlights how foil boards may alter marine predator behavior; the board’s shape could have startled the shark, prompting a curiosity‑driven pursuit rather than an attack. The rapid viral spread underscores public fascination with shark‑human interactions and the potential for such footage to influence perception of great whites. As Takeda and Boise plan another outing, they stress the importance of staying upright and not falling, a simple tactic that may reduce injury risk during unexpected encounters.

*Watch for follow‑up reports on how foil‑board design influences shark responses and any new safety guidelines emerging from marine research institutions.*