Don’t Use a Yellow Surfboard in Africa 

This superstition has some legs to stand on, even if you don’t surf you will remember the incredible videos and images buzzing around the internet and of Mick Fanning fighting off a shark attack, in Jbay on the world tour. This video and live stream went viral worldwide and really shined in the spotlight on shark attacks, as well as professional surfing.

Naturally, all the local myths and superstitions came to light, but ultimately it is backed up by some evidence, as well as a number of surfers in the local area who claimed sharks attack yellow boards a lot more than any other colour. The locals even have a name for surfboards that are yellow, they call them ‘Yum Yum Yellow’. However this may not be just limited to sharks in Africa, it may be all over the world, but because of the extent of shark attacks in Africa on yellow boards, it has given birth to the superstition predominantly there. The real-life scientific data shows that sharks have no real colour preference and aren’t attracted to yellow more than any other colour, but that may just mean more testing is needed.

Myth or not it’s probably worth making your next spray job any other colour than yellow if you’re surfing in Africa!

The New Board Curse (A New Surfboard Will Always Mean Bad Surfing Conditions/Session)

We have all been there, you’ve been waiting weeks and months for your new stick and it finally arrives! You can’t wait to take it out on the water and get it wet, but as soon as you get down to the local beach, the conditions look crap and the next week looks like windy, mush on magic seaweed. Most surfers can relate and probably agree it is almost guaranteed to bring bad luck. When you’re pumped to ride your new board, it’s never firing, or one of the good days, if it is you will probably end up snapping your board in half, or getting a ding. Sometimes it’s better to brave the mush and get through it and then look forward to future swells.

Whether you believe in these superstitions or not is up to you, some hold an element of truth, but most are just superstitions or folk law, we want to know if you believe in any of these, or are there any superstitions you live by?

Let us know in the comments below.