Bethany Hamilton isn’t just in Australia promoting her film. She’s there to compete. Photo: Rip Curl
Bethany Hamilton is one of the few surfers who are bonafide superstars outside of surfing. Her story of survival and resilience has inspired millions of people. That story, of course, has been turned into books and films, the most recent of which is called Unstoppable. Hamilton is in Australia doing the promotional rounds at the moment and dropped this bomb: “I think a lot of people think I’m just here in Australia doing film promotion,” she said. “But my number one reason for being here is to compete. I’m so excited to be back competing and to be back putting a real focus on it. It’s my goal to qualify this year.”
Yes, you read that correctly. Bethany Hamilton is competing on the WSL Qualifying Series with, as a press release states, a “clear goal of qualifying for the Championship Tour in 2021.” As she has proven time and time again, when Bethany Hamilton sets her sights on something, there’s a very good chance she’s going to succeed.
It’s been a full decade since the last time Bethany truly competed on the qualifying series. When she was much younger, competitive surfing was top-of-mind for her, but as she came out of her teenage years, her interest in it waned. “I put a lot of time into competitive surfing when I was younger,” she said, “then in my 20s I really just dabbled.”
But now, as a 30-year-old, she feels that she’s ready to give it a real stab. “I feel like I’m surfing better than ever, and I think I could do well on the World Tour,” she explained. “It would be so amazing to be a part of it. The level of surfing has gone up so much, from the QS through to the CT, and every heat is amazing to watch.”
Bethany Hamilton is a force to be reckoned with, and she’s got her sights set on the CT. Photo: Rip Curl
Things have changed a lot in surfing in the time since Hamilton has been competing full time, and she is excited to be a part of the new way of doing things. “It’s such a momentous time in women’s surfing,” Bethany continued. “With equal prize pay and the talent that is in our sport, it’s a really special time. I just like watching all of the women on Tour and it’s incredible just to surf with them – even outside of a heat. Their surfing is so amazing to me that it’s really compelled me to want to be a part of it.”
Whether she qualifies for the Championship Tour is still a long way off, but whatever happens, she’s taking it in stride. That seems to be a constant theme in her life: taking what life gives her and running with it. Bethany, however, tends to run much faster than most people. “It’d be insane to qualify, but I’m okay with it either way it goes,” she said. “I haven’t had a great start in these first two events but it’s such a long year and all it takes is two great results. I’m just staying calm and chipping away at some of the goals.”
If history has taught us anything, Bethany Hamilton, with her drive and determination, will succeed in accomplishing those goals — and we can’t wait to watch it happen.
