One very close call between a high flying stingray and professional surfer Stephanie Gilmore and her Yamaha FX thankfully resulted in little more than a acrobatics show rather than something far worse.
As reported by The Australian, the altercation was captured during the Quiksilver and Roxy Pro held at Snapper Rocks in Australia’s Gold Coast, cameramen captured the short second-long encounter between the female surfer and the ski’s pilot aboard her tow-in runabout and the stingray.
Gilmore was being pulled out for her quarterfinal showdown at the Roxy Pro when the winged stingray leaped several feet in the air, it’s barbed tail whipping in the air close enough for the rider to raise an arm to shield himself before the stingray dove back down into the water.
Personal watercraft riders have had countless encounters with wildlife while riding. Thankfully, nobody was hurt, but this close scrape is a reminder of how to always remain vigilant while riding. You never know what’s going to jump at you.
