U.S. led the world in shark attacks last year

The U.S. led the world again in the number of shark attacks last year, according to a University of Florida report released this week.

Worldwide, 79 attacks occurred in 2010 -- the highest number since 2000 (80) -- with 36 reported in the United States. Australia was second with 14, then South Africa with eight and Vietnam and Egypt with six each.

While Florida led the nation with 13 reported attacks, this total was significantly lower than the state's yearly average of 23 over the past decade.

"Florida had its lowest total since 2004, which was 12," said George Burgess, director of the International Shark Attack File at the university. Florida typically has the highest number of attacks worldwide, but 2010 marked the state’s fourth straight year of decline, Burgess said. "Maybe it’s a reflection of the downturn in the economy and the number of tourists coming to Florida, or the amount of money native Floridians can spend taking holidays and going to the beach."

Of those attacks in the U.S. outside of Florida, five were in North Carolina, with four each in California, Hawaii and South Carolina. There were single attacks in Georgia, Maine, Oregon, Texas, Virginia and Washington.

Surfers were the victims of slightly more than half of the incidents reported worldwide in 2010, nearly 51% of the cases. An economic downturn will usually influence tourists but not necessarily surfers, whose sport is relatively low-cost, Burgess said.

Swimmers and waders were the second-largest group affected, accounting for nearly 38% of the shark attacks internationally.

Big wave riders honored at the 10th Annual Billabong XXL Awards in Anaheim

Grant “Twiggy” Baker of South Africa thanked Mother Nature after winning the prestigious Ride of the Year Award last night at the 10th annual Billabong XXL Awards in Anaheim, Calif. The extraordinary El Nino fueled season was indeed the star of the ceremony, where some  2,000 surf industry VIPs traded in their trunks and bikinis for pressed shirts and heels to honor the best big wave riders in the world. Baker collected $50,000 for his perfect-10 ride at the Mavericks contest in Half Moon Bay last February.

Shawn Dollar of Santa Cruz won $15,000 for the Monster Paddle Award -- a wave he caught during the break between the semifinals and finals at the Mavericks contest, which saw the biggest swell in contest history this year. Three of the five nominated waves were from contest day. Dollar, who did not compete in the event, made it clear he hopes to ride his next Mavericks big wave  with a jersey on. “I want to be in the Mavs contest next year,” Dollar told the crowd after humbly accepting his award.

Raimana Van Bastolaer of Tahiti nabbed the top prize for the Monster Tube Award and Brook Phillips won the Wipe Out of the Year for his mutant body slam at Shipstern’s Bluff in Tasmania. Germany’s Sebastian Steudtner won top prize for Biggest Wave, which he was towed into at Peahi, also known as Jaws, in Maui.

Despite riding the biggest wave, Steudtner was goaded by presenter Christian Fletcher, known as the Godfather of aerial surfing, who gave the award “to the guy who can’t paddle in.” All of the biggest wave nominees were ridden with the assistance of a personal watercraft, as the size and speed of the larger waves makes them difficult to paddle into.

The event, hosted by Sal Masekela, also recognized the charitable work of  big wave riders Ramon Navarro of Chile, Greg Long of San Clemente and Kohl Christensen of Hawaii, who distributed water filters through the California based non-profit Save the Waves Coalition to Chileans immediately after the earthquake and tsunami.

The Best Overall Performance Award for women went to Brazilian Maya Gabiera for the fourth year in a row. Gabiera beat out Santa Cruz surfers Savannah Shaughnessey and Jamilah Star for the top prize. Star’s father, Reve Fuse, claimed the Kanye moment of the evening when he walked on stage and pointed out the disparity in money awarded to men and women. Of the $130,000 awarded, only $5,000 is allotted for wahines.

Hawaii’s Shane Dorian won Best Overall Performance for the men. Looking ahead to next year’s season, Dorian, 37, who focused on big wave surfing after 12 years on the ASP World Tour, said that he was inspired by the next generation of big wave surfers, including Nick Lamb, Shawn Dollar, Derek Dunfee, Alex Gray and Sion Milosky. “The only guys as amped as me are those guys, who are young, have nothing to lose and are in love with big wave surfing."

Based on the vibe at the Grove it looks like the love affair will continue for many years to come.

-- Sachi Cunningham

Photos: (Top) Grant Baker, right, is interviewed by Fuel TV with his girlfriend, Kate Lovemore, outside of the Billabong XXL Awards in Anaheim. (Middle) Hawaiians Mark Healey and Shane Dorian accept their runners-up award for Ride of the Year -- the two shared a ride together at Waimea Bay. (Bottom) Brazilian Maya Gabeira is interviewed by Hawaiian Kealia Kennelly outside the awards. Credit: Sachi Cunningham / Los Angeles Times

U.S. registers sharp drop in shark attacks last year

Surfers and other ocean-sport enthusiasts might find solace in the news that shark attacks in the United States declined in 2009, according to a University of Florida report released Monday.

"The big story is that the number of attacks in the United States dropped dramatically from 41 in 2008 to 28 in 2009," said George Burgess, director of the International Shark Attack File at the university. "Considering there were 50 attacks in 2007, we may have a bit of a trend, but only time will tell."

One possibility for the decline of attacks in U.S. coastal waters may be that fewer people visited the shore due to the recession.

"Florida's population hasn't gone down, so I suppose the economy could have had an effect on how many times people can afford to put gas in their cars and go to the beach," added Burgess.

Worldwide is a different story, however, with attacks edging up ever so slightly, from 60 in 2008 to 61 in 2009.

"More than half the attacks -- 33 out of 61 -- were surfers and this continues a trend that we've been seeing for quite awhile," said Burgess.

A Christmas wish list, checked twice

A Christmas wish, brief version, minus materialistic desires:

-- May this latest storm further blanket our mountains, for the benefit of skiers, snowboarders and resort operators. More important, may it saturate a landscape that remains so parched that creeks remain dry and waterfalls without cascades. We need lots  of precipitation in 2008-09.

-- May the economy improve sooner rather than later. This would be our Christmas miracle. Being forced from a home onto the street is the worst possible kind of outdoors experience, and it should not be happening.

-- May children receive more gifts that introduce them to our spectacular natural resources--surfboards, skis, snowboards, hiking boots, binoculars, tents, fishing poles, etc.--and fewer computerized gadgets that contribute to obesity and create a disconnect between kids and their parents.

-- May more parents get out of the house with their children, to a lake shore, a state park, aboard a whale-watch boat or wherever there is sky and a vast surrounding. Most outdoor activities are inexpensive. Generate fond memories. Instill an appreciation for open spaces and critters that inhabit them. You won't regret it.

-- May Japan and other whaling nations stop the slaughter. Most if not all species of whales were on the brink of extinction at one point in our recent history. Haven't they been through enough?

-- May people lose the taste for shark fin soup. Unlike whales, sharks are being driven methodically to extinction because of the demand for this so-called delicacy and the brutal practice of "finning" live sharks. This is perilous for sharks and the environment. Is a bowl of soup worth all this?

-- May more people go green. May we see fewer Hummers and Suburbans and more hybrids. May the warming trend reverse (another miracle, please) and may the polar bears somehow survive the shrinking of their icy realm. People are trying, and that's a positive first step.

-- May at least some of your Chritmas wishes come true. Happy holidays, everyone. May better times prevail in 2009!

-- Pete Thomas

Photo credit: Greg Zook, Big Bear Lake Resort Assn.

Kite-boarder takes unplanned flight

Just as one should never turn one’s back on the ocean, one should never take fierce winds for granted. You may have seen the video already, but if not, here is a clip showing a Miami kite-boarder getting swept into the air by gusts generated by tropical storm Fay and slammed first into the sand, and then into a building.

He was hospitalized with serious injuries. Is there a lesson to be learned here?

—Pete Thomas

Photo: Pedestrians run across U.S. Highway 1 as Tropical Storm Fay pelts Key West, Fla. Fay did not become a hurricane, as feared. Credit: Associated Press