Super rare sea lion attack. A royal takes a surf lesson. The youngest WSL contestant is a girl. Great Lakes “board” festival.

Super rare sea lion attack. A royal takes a surf lesson. The youngest WSL contestant is a girl. Great Lakes celebrate all things “board”

9-year-old girl in a super rare sea lion attack

Crazy! Corale Olsen, 9, was bitten and dragged underwater by a sea lion while surfing at Asilomar State Beach near Monterey, CA. The attack happened during surf camp as Corale was in the water with her siblings, it was reported. Sea lion bites are rare but can occur if the animals feel territorial or are affected by toxins like domoic acid from algae blooms. Despite puncture wounds and bruising, Corale says she won’t let the encounter keep her out of the ocean. Looking at her hospital pics in the press, all we can say is—she’s a little fighter and makes us girls proud.

Not-even-a-teenager-yet local makes WSL history at Teahupo’o

We’ve been waiting for a good write-up on Kelia Mehani Gallina, and The Guardian finally delivered. Imagine being 12 years old and facing current world No. 1, Molly Picklum of Australia, at Teahupo’o—one of the heaviest waves in the world. I guess it helps that Kelia can see the monster from her own bedroom in Teahupo’o village. Unbelievable as it sounds, Kelia will become the youngest competitor in WSL history when she paddles out at the Tahiti Pro this week—just days before her 13th birthday. For comparison, the youngest male to compete in the WSL is 21. Kelia has been riding waves since she was four, and the biggest wave she’s conquered so far was 12 feet, with her dad. This week, she’ll be on her own. Good luck, Kelia!

Royal Archie—yes, that Archie—takes a surf lesson

You might’ve seen Prince Harry charging Kelly Slater’s Surf Ranch waves with a bit of help from Raimana. And now, Prince Archie, 6, his eldest child with Meghan Markle, was spotted at a Santa Barbara surf camp learning to ride waves. His sister, Lilibet, 4, didn’t partake but watched from the beach.

‍♂️ Fun for the kids—and adults—Great Lakes Surf Festival returns to Muskegon

The 7th annual Great Lakes Surf Festival hits Pere Marquette Beach, Muskegon, on Saturday, Aug. 9, from 12:30–6 p.m., welcoming surfers, paddleboarders, foilers, and all water lovers. The event features live music via the Red Bull Vehicle DJ, surf vendor booths, raffles (including a grand prize trip for two to Witch’s Rock Surf Camp in Costa Rica—pretty cool), and the return of the Surfboard ART auction benefiting the Muskegon South Breakwater Lighthouse. Attendees can also vote in the Photo of the Year contest and join a beach cleanup at 6:30 p.m. Wish we were going!

Author: The Wipeout Weekly team