# Downwind safety
**URL:** https://forum.progressionproject.com/t/downwind-safety/1640
**Category:** Downwind Foil
**Tags:** safety
**Created:** [March 6, 2023, 6:06pm UTC](https://forum.progressionproject.com/t/downwind-safety/1640 "2023-03-06T18:06:22Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 9
### Author:  [@Erwin\_VMG](https://forum.progressionproject.com/u/Erwin_VMG)
#### Post date: [August 12, 2026, 2:55pm UTC](https://forum.progressionproject.com/t/downwind-safety/1640/164 "2026-08-12T14:55:39Z")
color of board does NOT matter for a shark
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### Author:  [@Matt](https://forum.progressionproject.com/u/Matt)
#### Post date: [August 12, 2026, 3:34pm UTC](https://forum.progressionproject.com/t/downwind-safety/1640/165 "2026-08-12T15:34:11Z")
I do NOT trust your screenshot as conclusive of anything
I do trust that KT boards are over represented in this topic
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### Author:  [@seawing](https://forum.progressionproject.com/u/seawing)
#### Post date: [August 12, 2026, 3:40pm UTC](https://forum.progressionproject.com/t/downwind-safety/1640/166 "2026-08-12T15:40:42Z")
Maybe that marbling pattern is giving seal vibes.
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### Author:  [@Eriefoiler](https://forum.progressionproject.com/u/Eriefoiler)
#### Post date: [August 12, 2026, 3:49pm UTC](https://forum.progressionproject.com/t/downwind-safety/1640/167 "2026-08-12T15:49:27Z")
Or theres a high KT marketshare in southern Cali?
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### Author:  [@Matt](https://forum.progressionproject.com/u/Matt)
#### Post date: [August 12, 2026, 4:44pm UTC](https://forum.progressionproject.com/t/downwind-safety/1640/168 "2026-08-12T16:44:00Z")
This would be the most likely explanation but feels too early to call.
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### Author:  [@Erwin\_VMG](https://forum.progressionproject.com/u/Erwin_VMG)
#### Post date: [August 12, 2026, 5:13pm UTC](https://forum.progressionproject.com/t/downwind-safety/1640/169 "2026-08-12T17:13:32Z")
this is NOT southern Cali …[El ataque de un tiburón en Fuerteventura se queda en un susto: "Le tocó la lotería"](https://www.fuerteventuradigital.com/articulo/canarias/mordida-tiburon-fuerteventura-queda-susto/20250721145623007340.html)
> **[El ataque de un tiburón en Fuerteventura se queda en un susto: "Le tocó la...](https://www.fuerteventuradigital.com/articulo/canarias/mordida-tiburon-fuerteventura-queda-susto/20250721145623007340.html)**
>
> La mordida de un tiburón a un joven deportista en la costa oeste de Fuerteventura se salda con unos puntos y antibióticos. Alba Frey e Iballa Ruano form...
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### Author:  [@Matt](https://forum.progressionproject.com/u/Matt)
#### Post date: [August 14, 2026, 6:47am UTC](https://forum.progressionproject.com/t/downwind-safety/1640/170 "2026-08-14T06:47:28Z")
[ ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rlXPOV9fAg4)
>
> This video details a harrowing encounter between a hydrofoiler and a large shark (estimated at 12–14 feet) at a location known as _Santa Claus Beach_, or “Shark Nursery” (0:02-0:14).
>
> **Key events include:**
>
> - **The Collision:** The rider inadvertently t-boned a large shark while carving over a bump, causing him to fly off his board (1:23, 5:23-5:55).
> - **The Aftermath:** The shark attacked the board, biting off parts of the tail and wing, and the rider was forced to paddle away while potentially being stalked by the shark (2:33, 3:00-3:41, 4:06-4:29).
> - **The Takeaway:** The group concludes that the encounter was aggressive specifically because of the collision; in contrast, their other recent shark encounters were peaceful when they kept their distance (6:34-6:43, 7:06-7:12).
> - **The Lesson:** The primary safety tip shared is to stay high on the foil to avoid contact, as a collision is likely to provoke a shark (7:12-7:19).
Stay high on the mast to avoid sharks 😂
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### Author:  [@JackA](https://forum.progressionproject.com/u/JackA)
#### Post date: [August 14, 2026, 3:02pm UTC](https://forum.progressionproject.com/t/downwind-safety/1640/171 "2026-08-14T15:02:49Z")
haha. To avoid getting attacked by a shark, do not get attacked by a shark.
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### Author:  [@JudoChop](https://forum.progressionproject.com/u/JudoChop)
#### Post date: [August 14, 2026, 6:24pm UTC](https://forum.progressionproject.com/t/downwind-safety/1640/172 "2026-08-14T18:24:10Z")
who actually knows, with some proper authority, about tourniquets? What can you teach me/us? more about WHEN to use it, than HOW.
I’ve heard say that it’s maybe more viable to carry something like an Israeli bandage in a dry pouch (yeah.. I had to google it too) for our uses since it’s way more likely to be the right tool for the job in our cases.
discuss
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### Author:  [@Matt](https://forum.progressionproject.com/u/Matt)
#### Post date: [August 14, 2026, 6:41pm UTC](https://forum.progressionproject.com/t/downwind-safety/1640/173 "2026-08-14T18:41:14Z")
Good topic.
This below was by far the clearest thing I’ve seen on the topic. Electric tape as a good way to apply pressure in effectively all the cases.
(Ben has done some crazy adventures, [November Biscay crossing in the Foiling Project podcast](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YS3jkJGyumc) interview 4min onwards)
> **[Ben Warrick on Instagram: "Just my thoughts on combat application tourniquets...](https://www.instagram.com/ben.warrick.7/reel/DPjpdfiExTs/)**
>
> 32 likes, 1 comments - ben.warrick.7 on October 8, 2025: "Just my thoughts on combat application tourniquets (CATS)".
Other times it came up
> [@Downwind safety](https://forum.progressionproject.com/t/downwind-safety/1640/62):
>
> The end of this podcast has a whole safety lesson. Tourniquets and AED’s for example. Start around 2:13. [[X-Foils Case 19: Carsons impact on Rincon Water Safety, Foiling, and the Magic of Tres Palmas] ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xk0YsnmoXDM&t=7674)
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### Author:  [@Matt](https://forum.progressionproject.com/u/Matt)
#### Post date: [August 21, 2026, 11:21am UTC](https://forum.progressionproject.com/t/downwind-safety/1640/174 "2026-08-21T11:21:52Z")
[https://www.instagram.com/p/DcSS-zKpFsY/](https://www.instagram.com/p/DcSS-zKpFsY/)
Also Edo discussed this in detail on the podcast with Erik, sounded hairy. Poor kid was terrified of sharks going into it! They mentioned they are seeing more sharks than what feels like usual
> [@FoilGraham](#):
>
> Nightmare fuel:
>
> 
my hope is that there are more cameras rather than more sharks!
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### Author:  [@aakaash](https://forum.progressionproject.com/u/aakaash)
#### Post date: [August 25, 2026, 8:01am UTC](https://forum.progressionproject.com/t/downwind-safety/1640/176 "2026-08-25T08:01:45Z")
That’s me in the video of the attack off of Santa Clause in Santa Barbara.
A couple of updates:
The DNA from the bites in my board came back as a shortfin mako. If the shark that [chased my friend Ron](https://youtu.be/Bsf2Q9vaTgI?is=MDP0OBNIR4HedS8a) on the same run in SB a couple months ago was a mako (we think it was) that would demonstrate that makos can take interest in foils. This also means that it’s possible that I didn’t hit my shark but that it hit me, and this changes the calculus if these are related events by the same species of shark.
Short fin Makos can get up to 15 ft, are the fastest shark in the ocean (can swim up to 45-60 mph in bursts), aggressive, and like to chase rather than ambush their prey like GWs do. They don’t look very different than a GW (see photo) so I could have easily misidentified it during the attack.
Ron and I were both on F4 Orcas, which produce a high frequency sound on foil, so the SoCal crew is discussing [sanding Donaldson Edges](https://youtu.be/6rcCk8bAF10?is=V-w85L37Lh0c6WA7) on our foils to make them silent in case that was at all a factor in attracting the sharks in both incidents.
Makos are pelagic, so deeper water (I was about 1.5 miles off the beach near the end of a 12 mile dw run) seems like a likelier place to cross paths with one than the shallower water nearer to shore.
There has been a lot of talk about KT boards and their bright colors. Both Ron (riding a Kalama barracuda) and I were on foil when the encounters occurred so in our cases I don’t think the boards incited the incidents. Sharks are colorblind but contrast sensitive, so it seems like breaking up the silhouette of the board from beneath (as we have seen with black and white stripes or checkered patterns) could be more relevant than color choice for attacks that have taken place when the rider is not on foil, like the one Edo describes.
I’ve also wondered if it’s time we explored the invention of new safety measures, like a pull tab on your PFD that releases some kind of chemical or organic deterrent into the water in the event of an attack, a sort of bear spray for sharks if you will. I wouldn’t have had time to do much else else given how fast the shark’s multiple strikes occurred.
Lastly, I hope this never happens to any of you, it’s not like how you imagine it.
-Aakaash
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### Author:  [@Matt](https://forum.progressionproject.com/u/Matt)
#### Post date: [August 25, 2026, 9:28am UTC](https://forum.progressionproject.com/t/downwind-safety/1640/177 "2026-08-25T09:28:12Z")
Glad you’re ok and thanks for sharing details @aakaash
interesting ideas. Regarding humming, a shark friend said they they follow the disturbance trail through the water as a trail to hone in on their target, I wonder if that makes it worse
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### Author:  [@Hdip](https://forum.progressionproject.com/u/Hdip)
#### Post date: [August 25, 2026, 3:23pm UTC](https://forum.progressionproject.com/t/downwind-safety/1640/178 "2026-08-25T15:23:03Z")
Really good post Aakaash. Thanks. Glad you’re working through it. Getting more details and analyzing what went right and what went wrong.
Lakes are good fun in the summer. Get a pump scooter for your kids. It’s the only type of foiling my 13 year old has asked to go and do.
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### Author:  [@JackA](https://forum.progressionproject.com/u/JackA)
#### Post date: [August 25, 2026, 3:50pm UTC](https://forum.progressionproject.com/t/downwind-safety/1640/179 "2026-08-25T15:50:12Z")
At the 2:40 of this video, this guy said the same thing about the sound.
[ ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWOcM3yZWDg)
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### Author:  [@JackA](https://forum.progressionproject.com/u/JackA)
#### Post date: [August 25, 2026, 4:00pm UTC](https://forum.progressionproject.com/t/downwind-safety/1640/180 "2026-08-25T16:00:20Z")
For tail aspect attacks, this could help:
> **[Freedom8 Shark Deterrent - Sentinel Ocean Systems](https://sentineloceansystems.com/products/freedom8-shark-deterrent/?v=7885444af42e)**
>
> Freedom 8 is a wearable shark deterrent built on over 20 years of shark deterrent technology which creates an electrical field that is proven to significantly reduce the likelihood of a shark interaction.
For attacks from below, changing the contrast seems to work. I wonder if painting white eyes on the bottom of each end of a front foil would help.
> **[How Do You Avoid a Shark Attack? The Answer Could Be... LED Lights?!](https://www.syfy.com/syfy-wire/how-do-you-avoid-a-shark-attack-led-lights-could-be-answer)**
>
> How do you avoid a shark attack? A new study reveals that patterned LED lights deter great white sharks from attacking seal decoys.
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### Author:  [@Hdip](https://forum.progressionproject.com/u/Hdip)
#### Post date: [August 25, 2026, 4:01pm UTC](https://forum.progressionproject.com/t/downwind-safety/1640/181 "2026-08-25T16:01:55Z")
All the studies I’ve read that talk about eyes on the bottom of the board aren’t as effective as putting LED lights on the bottom of the board to break up the silhouette. How far are you willing to go?
Oh. Answered directly above me. Whoops.
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### Author:  [@SpokeyDoke](https://forum.progressionproject.com/u/SpokeyDoke)
#### Post date: [August 25, 2026, 4:25pm UTC](https://forum.progressionproject.com/t/downwind-safety/1640/182 "2026-08-25T16:25:16Z")
Foil Drive with lights…just to be safe 🤣
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### Author:  [@Zarb](https://forum.progressionproject.com/u/Zarb)
#### Post date: [August 25, 2026, 4:46pm UTC](https://forum.progressionproject.com/t/downwind-safety/1640/183 "2026-08-25T16:46:49Z")
Just do what they do in the Navy when it’s time for Swim Call. Have one designated downwinder with a rifle.
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### Author:  [@Eriefoiler](https://forum.progressionproject.com/u/Eriefoiler)
#### Post date: [August 25, 2026, 5:17pm UTC](https://forum.progressionproject.com/t/downwind-safety/1640/184 "2026-08-25T17:17:17Z")
Sounds like an opportunity for Vaikobi to integrate some anti shark tech into the downwind vests. 😜
Anti coyote vest:
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