Shark survivor and mum Bethany Hamilton awarded Swatch Pro surf wildcard

SHARK survivor Bethany Hamilton has been awarded her second wildcard of the season and will run headfirst into a pair of Aussies in her first surf at the Swatch Women’s Pro.

Bethany Hamilton posting a near perfect 9.00 point ride when she defeated Tyler Wright in Fiji earlier this year.

SHARK survivor Bethany Hamilton has been awarded her second wildcard of the season and will run headfirst into a pair of Australians in her first outing at the Swatch Women’s Pro in the US next week.

Hamilton, who lost her arm in a shark attack as a teenager surfing in Hawaii, caused a sensation earlier this year after being awarded her first wildcard into a World Surf League event.

US surfer Bethany Hamilton during the Fiji Womens Pro earlier this year.

The young mother-of-one took down both world title contender Tyler Wright and multiple world champion Stephanie Gilmore en-route to her semi-final appearance in the Fiji Pro.

At Lower Trestles in the US next week she will meet Wright in the first round of competition, along with Australian Nikki Van Dijk.

“After her incredible performance in Fiji, which is the best we’ve seen from a wildcard in some time, she has earned the opportunity to compete alongside the world’s best once again,” said WSL Women’s Commissioner Jessi Miley-Dyer.

Hamilton is mother to Tobias, born in June 2015.

The Swatch Pro is the fourth last event of the women’s world tour currently being lead by Wright from American Courtney Conlogue, just 500 point behind.

“Trestles is the most rippable wave on tour,” said Wright. “You see some of the best surfing of the year happen in the men’s and women’s events at the venue and it’s really exciting.’’

Conlogue’s first round match-up at the Swatch pro will see her take on Australian Laura Enever and Brazil’s Chelsea Tuach.

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