Bethany rides Kona waves in national surfing meet
Associated Press
KAILUA, Hawai'i — Teen surfer Bethany Hamilton returned to competition yesterday, just 10 weeks after losing her left arm in a shark attack.
Associated Press
The 13-year-old Hamilton placed fifth in her age group in the Open Women Division of a National Scholastic Surfing Association meet at Banyans.
Bethany Hamilton, 13, placed fifth in her age group in her first competition since losing her left arm in a shark attack.
"It was definitely a good start," Hamilton said.
It was Hamilton's first meet since the weekend before she was attacked Oct. 31, although she returned to the water Thanksgiving Day.
Hamilton began with a modest 2-foot wave, but caught a 6-footer during her quarterfinal heat. She kicked her left leg to help propel her 6-foot-2 surfboard into waves, and occasionally struggled when pushing off the board with one hand.
"Once I get up on the board, I'm OK," Hamilton said. "Sometimes it's hard to get there."
