Bethany Hamilton’s Been Awarded The Fiji Pro Wildcard

Miss Hamilton’s the most popular female surfer of our time… or ever. Every now and again she’s awarded a wildcard spot, last year it was the Swatch Women’s Pro Lower Trestles event, just three months after she had her first child. It resulted in a round two exit, but that’s besides the point. Beth’s a boss. In 2003, she lost her arm to a 14-foot tiger shark, along with 60 percent of her blood. After undergoing multiple surgeries, she returned to the water just a month later. Miss Hamilton was 13 at the time. She wrote an autobiography in 2004, Soul Surfer, starred in a documentary, Heart of a Soul Surfer and her story’s served as global inspiration. Not to mention, she’s still considered one of the best female surfers in the world. As most shutter at the idea of tackling Jaws with two arms, Beth whipped into multiple last winter. Now, the 26 year old mother has been awarded the wildcard for the women’s Fiji Pro.

Miss Hamilton’s no stranger to pumping lefthand reef passes. And as a bonus, the gal charges!

“I am so excited to have the opportunity to be competing in the women’s event at Cloudbreak,” said Beth. “I’ve been dreaming of surfing and competing there for years and I think the wave will suit my surfing! Seeing all the swell headed to Fiji has me pumped up! I know I’ll have to surf strong and be heat smart to do well, I believe I can!”

“When the contest starts is around the time I gave birth to my son Tobias last year,” she continued. “It’s been an amazing year full of beauty and challenge becoming a mom but also continuing my surfing career. I’ve loved working hard and I am feeling strong and sharp. With a lot of cross training and coming off a recent surf trip filming my film Surfs Like a Girl I feel good heading into this contest.”