Shark sighting in Huntington Beach temporarily pauses popular surfing competition
Huntington Beach shark sighting delays surf competition
The Vans Jack’s Surfboards Pro 2026 in Huntington Beach was suspended for 24 hours after an aggressive 10-foot shark sighting triggered a water closure.
HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. - The Vans Jack’s Surfboards Pro contest in Huntington Beach was temporarily put on hold Friday following an "aggressive" shark sighting in the competition area.
What we know:
The shark, estimated to be at least 10 feet long, was spotted Thursday afternoon following the conclusion of the day’s competition.
This sighting triggered an immediate closure of the ocean water near the pier, extending from Beach Boulevard to 17th Street, according to the Huntington Beach Fire Department.
Authorities monitored the ocean water on Friday, and without any new shark sightings, the beach was reopened at about 4:30 p.m.
The competition was scheduled to resume at 7 a.m. Saturday.
What they're saying:
"They were paddleboarding post-competition in that general area and unfortunately there was a great white shark, and they called the lifeguard and the lifeguard confirmed, that they did find a great white shark over there so now we're taking safety precautions," said Jack's Surfboards Marketing Manager, Nancy Leighton.
"We have athletes coming and traveling out-of-state which is great, but we have to be really respectful of their time, their rep times, the judges, everything so we are really trying our best to get the competition done by Sunday as planned," said Leighton.
Dig deeper:
Earlier this month, a fisherman reeled in a 7-foot great white at Hermosa Beach Pier. Just days before that incident, an 8-foot great white was spotted circling a surfer in Newport Beach.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE:
- CAUGHT ON CAMERA: Fisherman reels in 7-foot great white shark at Hermosa Beach Pier
- 8-foot great white shark seen circling surfer in Newport Beach
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Fisherman frees shark in Hermosa Beach
A great white shark caught on a fishing line right at the shoreline. The man unhooked the fishing line and thanks to a help from a nearby lifeguard, the shark was safely freed back into the ocean.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Shark spotted near surfer in Newport Beach
Beachgoers were still allowed on the sand, but access to the water remained restricted.
The Source: This report is based on official event updates from the Huntington Beach Fire Department and the Vans Jack’s Surfboards Pro and World Surf League social media channels. Information regarding regional shark activity was obtained from previous FOX 11 reports.