"She is a super human," said Ross Williams of Bethany Hamilton's performance at the Fiji Pro. "It looked for a while there like she was gonna take this thing out [win the event]. She just had that connection the whole time between barrels and turns; it was incredible to watch."
All smiles from this Kauaian Semifinalist. - WSL / Ed Sloane
Indeed, it was. But it's not like Kauai's Bethany Hamilton hasn't already proven over the last decade that she can still compete at the Championship Tour level despite a very evident setback (she lost her entire left arm in a shark attack over a decade ago). In waves like Cloudbreak, as a goofyfooter, she isn't even able to grab the wall of the wave to stall. Yet another thing that hasn't held her back in the least.
A look at the wildcard's stunning performances throughout the event at Cloudbreak.
Still, these days everyone is surfing significantly better and performance levels on the Women's Tour are through the roof. Earning the wildcard at the Fiji Pro this year, however, Bethany showed the world once more how talented she is, beating the now-World Champ Tyler Wright in Round Two to advance all the way to the Semis in picture-perfect Cloudbreak.
The event wildcard fires warning shots with another big score during Round Three.
It was a story that made the Today Show and news channels the world-over. It's also hard to say if there's a mom out there that rips as hard as Bethany Hamilton does with a jersey on. Because that's another thing -- Hamilton's a mother, too.
Bethany would carry this momentum to Lowers, where yet again, she was rewarded a wildcard spot, proving she could earn a seat at the CT table.
Story Makers of 2016: Bethany Hamilton's Inspiring Tavi Tear
WSL
"She is a super human," said Ross Williams of Bethany Hamilton's performance at the Fiji Pro. "It looked for a while there like she was gonna take this thing out [win the event]. She just had that connection the whole time between barrels and turns; it was incredible to watch."
Indeed, it was. But it's not like Kauai's Bethany Hamilton hasn't already proven over the last decade that she can still compete at the Championship Tour level despite a very evident setback (she lost her entire left arm in a shark attack over a decade ago). In waves like Cloudbreak, as a goofyfooter, she isn't even able to grab the wall of the wave to stall. Yet another thing that hasn't held her back in the least.
Still, these days everyone is surfing significantly better and performance levels on the Women's Tour are through the roof. Earning the wildcard at the Fiji Pro this year, however, Bethany showed the world once more how talented she is, beating the now-World Champ Tyler Wright in Round Two to advance all the way to the Semis in picture-perfect Cloudbreak.
It was a story that made the Today Show and news channels the world-over. It's also hard to say if there's a mom out there that rips as hard as Bethany Hamilton does with a jersey on. Because that's another thing -- Hamilton's a mother, too.
Bethany would carry this momentum to Lowers, where yet again, she was rewarded a wildcard spot, proving she could earn a seat at the CT table.
Bethany Hamilton
Check out the full event pres. by First Hawaiian Bank and Mastercard recap with some of the event's best performances.
The event presented by First Hawaiian Bank and Mastercard will bring some of the island's top performers to the famed reefbreak June 17 -
Bethany Hamilton's appearance in the 2014 women's event at Pipe was just another example of her talent and determination.
Russell Bierke's BWA Ride Of The Year entry, Nathan Florence is the POV master, Bethany's 'In The Night' and an important new book.
Stephanie Gilmore and a right-hand point are a match made in heaven, Hamilton chasing a CT spot and the Ohana Fest at Doheny State Beach.
Fiji Women's Pro
Mid-season, and the world's best face off against the mythic wave known at Cloudbreak.
Sage Erickson captures a smooth ride as the sun sets over the sea in her first Fiji GoPro Challenge entry.
Sage Erickson turns amateur videographer when she grabs a clip of Tavarua boatman Lucas Dirkse in her second entry into the Fiji GoPro
The WSL's first week in paradise was a busy one.
It's time you knew more about the Réunion Island native who just cracked the Top 5.