It seems that holding a paddle while stand up paddle surfing has more benefits than the obvious! This week after a shark attack in Maui, one paddler is thinking himself very lucky after he fended off an 8ft tiger shark with his blade. 

7.30am off Kanaha Beach Park (Also known as Kite beach on Maui) at the popular surf break known as Boneyards, 55 year old Dave Peterson was knocked off his board by what is believed to be a tiger shark. It took a foot long chunk out of his board, obviously throwing him off.

"I didn't see anything," he said. "I landed on the back of the shark. It had a hold on my board… It wouldn't let go. I started beating it over the head with my fist and paddle and yelling at it."

That takes some serious kahoonas if you ask us! After the shark swam away, Peterson just got back on his board and paddled back to shore. Apologising to his fellow surfers who had to get out of the water due to the beach being closed. The local surfboard (and stand up paddle board) shaper was totally uninjured, which was pretty amazing considering that it had a good chomp on his board. Poor guy must have fiberglass splinters up to his eyeballs! 

The same beach was thrown into the spotlight for similar reasons in June, when a swimmer was attacked by a small reef shark. Unfortunately, the wasn't holding a paddle at the time and suffered some nasty cuts and lacerations to her leg. 

Maui locals are undeterred by the attack. They say the sharks are (loosely translated) 'family gods' who are all around them. The last fatal attack was back in 2004 at S-Turns in Kahana (not to be confused with this place, Kanaha)

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