I am fairly new to kiting and have the pleasure of living in the beautiful state of W.A. Over here we have lots of waves lots of wind and you guessed it lots of sharks!!! As I have only really started kiting consistently over this last winter I have had the joy of learning in uncrowded beaches and strong gusty winds. I have also however had the joy of falling of far from land on dark overcast days and having to bodydrag back to my board all the whilst feeling like I am trolling for great whites using myself as the lure.


There hasn't been any kiters attacked yet in our state (and people get munched here on a fairly regular basis) and I am unsure about how many worldwide which makes me wonder if this is luck or statistical or if the nature of kiting is a deterrent to sharks. I could imagine that a small shark could be afraid of a big kite (12m kite vs 6 foot bronze whaler) but I doubt if it would be true for a big shark (6m kite vs 5 meter great white). You are fast and mobile on a kite but if you came off in the wrong spot at the wrong time? Does a shark look at a kite like a small fish looks at a sea bird ready to swoop (I know thats pushing it but wouldn't that be nice).

I have had my fair share of run ins with sharks whilst surfing over the years and would be interested to hear peoples kiting shark stories also any ideas/theories on how sharks relate to kites. I know any kiter in WA who has had to bodydrag out the back has thought about it and I know were definitely not the only place with sharks.
So what do you guys reckon, bloody sharks eh?