VANDAYA muse Bethany Hamilton

Bethany Meilani Hamilton just turned 30 (2020), yet she has accomplished more than most others her age. She is a professional surfer, a mom of 2, an author and a rolemodel and we can't wait to tell her story.

Who is Bethany Hamilton?

Bethany Hamilton grew up in Kauai, Hawaii with her parents and two older brothers. Her parents both surfed and she basically grew up on a surf board. She won a major surf competition at the age of 7. At the age of 9 she had already gotten her first sponsorship, a rising star. Bethany was the first female surfer to compete in the Rip Curl Cup (2012), she has competed in some of the most prestigious surf competitions all leading to that she in 2017 became a part of the Surfer's Hall Of Fame. 

Bethany has been featured in Good Morning America, The Oprah Winfrey Show, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, The Tonight Show and many others. She has played a part in the movie Dolphin tale 2 and you can now watch a documentary about her on Netflix called Bethany Hamilton: Unstoppable. There is a reason for this, Bethany has an amazingly inspiring story:

What happened to Bethany Hamilton?

Not only did Bethany work herself up to compete with the best surfers in the world and take on some of the most dangerous waves existing. She did it with one arm. When she was only 13 years old and the hopes of a surfing career were high, she was attacked by a 4 meter tiger shark off the coast of Hawaii. The tiger shark bit of her left arm just below her shoulder. She was in the water with her friend (also professional surfer) Alana Blanchard who helped her back to shore. She was put in the hospital where her father was already waiting to get a knee surgery, but Bethany took his place on the operating table. Bethany had lost a lot of blood, but she survived. 

Her friends in the surfing community felt for Bethany and the end of her surfing career, but Bethany had other plans. Just 4 weeks after the attack, Bethany returned to the ocean with her board. She had to learn to surf again with one arm and had difficulties doing duck dives, she added a handle to her board to make it possible and quickly she was on the board again. The shark attack was in 2003 but already in 2004 she got first place in the NSSA National Competition in Australia and in 2005 in the US, something no one would have expected possible. In 2015 she gave birth to her first son Tobias and had to find a life work balance while still competing as a pro.

What is Bethany Hamilton doing today?

Bethany have had an amazing surf career that is still going but she has also managed to inspire people around the world with what she has accomplished. She is inspiring people to live their best life and to conquer every obstacle on their way through her books, her speaks and initiatives on her website. 

Want to know more about Bethany Hamilton? We can only reccomand to put on the Netflix movie Unstoppable and get inspired by the ever smiling Bethany, her beautiful family and an upbringing in salty waves, we almost guarantee a little amazed tear coming your way. Bethany has won our hearts and we are honored to present her as our VANDAYA muse. 

Xo VANDAYA