California Surfer Films Great White Swimming Under his Board
By Mike Cardillo
Mike Durand of the surfing site swellmagnet.com heard there were some great white shark sightings off Manhattan Beach so he strapped on a GoPro camera and paddled out to investigate. He almost got more than he bargained for, with a juvenile great white swimming directly under his board.
It’s an image that’s terrifying — regardless of the size of the shark in question.
KXAN tracked down Durand and asked why he’d paddle out in shark-ridden waters.
"“It’s exciting. I like to live on the edge,” said Durand. “I like to surf good-sized waves and do things that scare me a little bit. It makes me feel alive, so when I saw the shark, I was like, ‘Aww, there it is. That’s the footage I’ve wanted to get. I will pursue this shark a little bit.’ I didn’t know he would pursue me.”"
It’s nice to know there are risk-takers out there like Durand to capture footage like this. Living on the edge in my book consists of asking for a turbo shot of espresso at Dunkin’ Donuts.