Paerata-Reid shaking up the NZ surfing order
When a shark the size of a surfboard sunk its teeth into his foot, Elliot Paerata-Reid knew exactly what to do.
He remembered his godfather's tale of escaping a great white and kicked the thresher shark in the face.
For many 10-year-olds a shark attack and eight stitches would be enough to put them off going in the water for life.
But at the time it hardly fazed Paerata-Reid, who fast-forward 10 years to today is one of the country's best surfers.
"I feel like I'd be more shaken up if it happened now," he says.
"I pretty much looked it right in the eye ... I still remember what it looked like."
