A remarkable and slightly unnerving encounter unfolded off the coast of Santa Barbara, where a downwind foil session turned into a real-life game of cat and mouse with a great white shark.
During a 20-mile downwind run from the University of California Santa Barbara to Carpinteria, two foilers found themselves sharing the ocean with a curious predator estimated at 10 to 11 feet in length. What started as a routine glide quickly escalated when the shark began tracking one of the riders—mirroring turns, matching speed, and staying close for several minutes.
According to the foiler accounts, the encounter began after the riders unknowingly passed over the shark. The animal’s curiosity appeared instantly triggered. For roughly three minutes, the shark followed closely, reacting to every movement: when the rider turned, it turned; when he accelerated, it kept pace.
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“It felt like an eternity,” one of the riders noted. “It was a full-on game of cat and mouse—but with a 10- to 11-foot shark.”
Eventually, the shark lost interest and peeled away, allowing the foilers to continue their journey. Impressively, they completed the remaining 10 miles of the run without incident.
A Sign of the Season?
This encounter comes amid growing reports of increased shark activity along the Southern California coastline. Recent sightings include great whites circling surfers in Newport Beach, one being caught near the Hermosa Beach Pier, and another forcing the shutdown of a surf contest in Huntington Beach.
Experts point to a marine heatwave in the Pacific as a key factor, creating favorable conditions for sharks and increasing their presence closer to shore.
“It’s going to be a very sharky summer,” is the current outlook among marine observers.
Foiling Meets the Wild
For the foiling community, encounters like this highlight both the beauty and unpredictability of the ocean. Downwind foiling—often praised for its speed, silence, and ability to cover long distances—also places riders far offshore and directly in marine ecosystems.
In this case, composure made all the difference. The rider maintained control, avoided erratic movements, and ultimately allowed the situation to de-escalate naturally.
“It’s a big ocean out there,” the group reflected. “A good reminder of how wild nature can be. Sharks are incredible animals—if you respect them, they usually move on. But if you glide over them, they might just get curious.”
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