The Maui Pro surf contest has been put on hold after a male recreational surfer was apparently bitten by a shark Tuesday morning at Honolua Bay on Maui.
Shark warning signs were posted on either side of Honolua Bay after a male surfer encountered a shark as he was paddling out from the old boat ramp in the bay, the state Department of Land and Natural Resources announced in a news release, citing reports from its Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement.
The man, whose age was estimated at between 50 and 60 years, was taken to the hospital and admitted for surgery, DLNR said.
The incident occurred before the scheduled 10 a.m. start of the second day of competition at the Women’s Maui Pro surf contest at Honolua Bay, which was then called off by the World Surf League, which kicked off its 2021 women’s championship tour.
In a video announcement on WSL’s website, CEO Erik Logan said the contest had been put on hold indefinitely.
DLNR said it is unknown if others were in the water, and DOCARE reported ocean conditions were poor due to high surf.
“Based on my initial briefing, the victim was already on shore and aid was being rendered when our personnel arrived on scene, ” Ryan Yatsushiro, public information officer for Maui County Fire Department, told the Star-Advertiser in an email.
“It is not believed the surfer was involved in the WSL Women’s Professional Surfing Competition, ” DLNR said, noting that the organizers of the event voluntarily suspended the competition and that DLNR’s Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation also suspended a Marine Ocean Water Event (MOWE ) permit it had issued for the contest.
Following standard protocol after a shark incident, warning signs will remain in place until at least noon on Wednesday, after Maui County and State personnel determine there is no further shark presence, DLNR said.
The signs are placed for one mile to either side of the bay, from DT Fleming Beach Park to Punalau Beach, also known as Windmills, DLNR said.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with this victim, ” WSL’s Logan said.
Meanwhile, in men’s competition on Oahu’s North Shore, Joshua Moniz won the Pipe Invitational to secure a wildcard spot into the Billabong Pipe Masters, which could start as early as Wednesday.
Moniz, of Kuliouou, Oahu, used a pair of 9.60 rides to finish far ahead of runner-up Miguel Tudela, a Peruvian who also advanced.
The 2021 tour is kicking off this month in Hawaii, where the season usually concludes. The second stop will be the Sunset Pro at Oahu’s Sunset Beach in January.
In a game-changing shift this season, the WSL announced the women’s and men’s world championships will be decided in one day at their tours’ final event, a one-day surf-off among the five surfers who have accumulated the most points out of the 11 tour events. Previously, the surfer who collected the most points throughout the tour won the title, regardless of who won the final event.
“I really love the change, ” said Honolulu’s John John Florence, who is seeking his first Pipe Masters title. “I think it’s going to be one of the most exciting events in surfing we’ve had so far.”
The final event for both men and women will be held in September at Trestles in Southern California.
Pennybacker writes for the Star-Advertiser