Freestyle Shark Tide Watch: Making Big Waves

Paddling around "Dungeons," a renowned surf spot outside of Hout Bay in Cape Town, a mad South African and I got cleaned off our racing kayaks by a breaking wave. A particularly troubling event considering that Great Whites were known to feed on the seals that lazed around on a nearby island.

I've yet to be paid a visit by "the man in the gray suit," but many of my friends have. Just today I read a story on www.surfski.info about a chap from Durban who was cruising down a steep wave when, boom, he came to an abrupt halt when a Great White bit his boat just behind the rudder. Fortunately, when it tasted fiberglass, not flesh, the shark vanished. When the paddler inspected his boat after returning to the beach, he found a tooth left behind as a souvenir.

Call me squeamish but the only dorsal fin I ever hope to see when I'm splashing about in my kayak is the tiny emblem on my Freestyle Shark Tide watch. Designed by and for surfers, Freestyle's waterproof watches are built to withstand the abusive conditions of saltwater, wipeouts, and sand. (Pro surfer Kelly Slater has worn Shark watches.)

I was drawn to the Shark Tide because it has a durable polyurethane strap (usually the first thing to go on my watches) and a back light display so that a nearsighted lad like myself can see what time it is on those anxious early-morning wake ups before a race. The alarm is easy to set, and the stop watch, which I use to record intervals when I run and paddle, is easy to use (and that's saying something because I'm easily frustrated by tricky technology).

There are two current time screens so I don't have to reset my watch when I change time zones. The Shark Tide also has a function that tells me current and future tide heights.   Cool. The only thing the watch doesn't do is repel sharks...then again, I haven't read all of the instructions yet.

Bottom Line: A streamlined and stylish waterproof watch with an alarm, stop watch, and variety of other useful functions. Ideal for surfers, paddlers, snorklers, and other aquatic types.--J.G. (Sept. '07)

Price: $100

Buy Online: Purchase Shark Tide Watch

Manufacturer's Site: www.freestyleusa.com

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