A surfing competition in Huntington Beach was scrubbed for the day Friday due to an “aggressive” shark sighting off the coast.
According to the World Surf League, the multi-day Vans Jack’s Surfboards Pro competition was put on hold Friday “for 24 hours following a shark sighting in the competition zone yesterday afternoon, after competition was finished.”
“The safety of our surfers and staff is our top priority, and competition will resume once the water safety team and local authorities confirm the competition area is clear,” organizers wrote on Instagram.
The competition was tentatively scheduled to resume at 7 a.m. Saturday.
According to the Huntington Beach Fire Department, the shark was estimated to be about 10 feet long, “and aggressive behavior was observed.”
The sighting prompted a closure of the ocean water near the pier, extending from Beach Boulevard to 17th Street, according to the fire department.
Authorities monitored the ocean water throughout the day, and without any new shark sightings, the beach was reopened at about 4:30 p.m. Friday.