“I just got hit by a whale!”

[Dusk Patrol]

Said Aussie Jason:

[spindrift]

As far as I know I've never hit anything in the water other than maybe a jellyfish. I'm curious if others have hit anything with their foil. I think about hitting turtles. I would feel really bad if that happened.

[Badger]

As far as I know I've never hit anything in the water other than maybe a jellyfish. I'm curious if others have hit anything with their foil. I think about hitting turtles. I would feel really bad if that happened.

We often hit Striped Bass in the spring when they enter Great Bay in NH. Some of them are over 30 inches. They usually escape without injury but there have been fatalities. They become food for bald eagles.

.

[StellaBlu]

I recently hit something that stopped me DEAD in my tracks from probably close to 20 knots.  I thought it must have ripped the foil off of my board, and was surprised to find there was no damage.  Felt like a submerged log, but nothing was there when I got the board so I think it must have been a large and solid fish of some sort.  Scared me half to death.  I would love to know what it was (or maybe not).

[jondrums]

I nicked a sea lion that got too curious or maybe territorial in Santa Cruz.  I saw it come towards me at an angle while I was going down the line on a wave and I tried to swerve away.  It turned too and I felt a little swipe but didn't fall.  It didn't come back.

Another time I hit something very firm and very alive at mach speed winging in Baja.    I can't explain how I know it was alive, I guess the feel of how it hit.  I got totally thrown off and whatever it was sped off before I could see what it was.  I assume for my own sanity that it was a large fish.