I hit a dolphin that chose to jump right in front of me one day. By his surprise, I'd have to say he wasn't even aware that I was there...the water was pretty murky. It actually knocked me off of my board cuz the board stopped so suddenly. Had that been a shark and I had fell off next to it like this, I think I would have learned to walk on water this day. To the best of my knowledge, no dolphins were injured in the making of this story.On 2002-10-31 16:19, RickI wrote:
I rode over a little guy a while back, about 4 to 5 ft. long. Seconds before the shark was framed in the crest of a wave. Nothing as nice looking as the photo shown but interesting all the same. Boy was he surprised to see me flying over the top of him! I think after the shark recoved his dignity he moved on to a more quiet area free of kiteboarders.
Rick Iossi
I've also thought that I was running aground before only to look down and see that I was riding through a school of about 378,622,912,936,061 stingrays swimming just below the surface with the occasional one getting it from my fins. To the best of my knowledge, stingrays were harmed but not killed in the making of this story.
I have also been out kitesurfing on waves and found that I was sharing them with dolphins who appeared to be riding the swells as well. Interesting thing about this one is that they were jumping right next to me repeatedly, kind of like looking me in the eye...they were close enough that I could smell them....and they wern't in the least bit bothered by my presence aside from leaping next to me to keep an eye on me. They were even with me on the next tack with the waves, and the next and the next...it was I who finlly had to break off and leave, they seemed content to stay and play along with me all day. This one I wish their had been a camera present to capture for me.
Johnny