New mum Bethany Hamilton earns wildcard to surf ranch world tour event
SHARK attack survivor Bethany Hamilton will contest her first competition since 2017 and four months after having her second child after securing one of the hottest tickets in world surfing.
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SHARK attack survivor Bethany Hamilton will contest her first competition since 2017 and four months after having her second child after securing one of the hottest tickets in world surfing.
Hamilton, who lost her arm in a shark attack while surfing in Hawaii as a teenager, has been awarded a wildcard to the inaugural Surf Ranch Pro world tour event after impressing officials in a recent session at the man-made wave.
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Hamilton, who gave birth to her second son, Wesley, earlier this year, will join the top women in the world at the wave pool event in California in September.
Road tripping through CA!!!! 🚘🤙ðŸ½ðŸ’• pic.twitter.com/rlQmb6vntn
— Bethany Hamilton (@bethanyhamilton) July 18, 2018
Surf legend Kelly Slater is behind the wave pool which will host the first ever world tour event for both women and men in artificial waves.
“I love the idea of competing in a semi-controlled environment,’’ said Hamilton, who has competed in eight world tour events in the past.
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“It’s great to know what I’m getting with the waves and to be on the same playing field as everyone else. All of us girls are just going to be going to town, shredding it.”
Hamilton made the semi finals of the Fiji Pro the last time she competed on the world tour in 2016.
But she will be up against some tough talent in the September event with Australian Stephanie Gilmore already being rated one of the best women’s surfers in a wave pool.
She and American Lakey Peterson are currently dominating the women’s world tour race.