Heart and Soul of a Surfer - Bethany Hamilton's first surf after her life changing shark attack

In Brief: Bethany Hamilton

D.O.B: 8th February 1990

Born and raised at the North Shore, Kauai, she was taughtb to surf by her parents. At an early age Bethany showed true talent and at the young age of 7 years old, she won her first competition, the Quiksilver 'Push and Ride'.

On the 31st October 2003, Bethany went for an early morning surf with 3 female friends. By 7.30am, she had been involved in an serious incident with a 15ft tigershark, which resulted in her loosing her left arm.

Her friends helped her paddle back to shore, using a surfboardleash as a tourniquet to slow the bleeding, (she had lost 60% of her blood from the attack).

But Bethany Hamilton is one courageous 'Board Chick' and within less than 4 weeks of the accident, she went back in the water to surf again.

Since the accident, Bethany is back into competitive surfing and in 2005 she won the NSSA National Championships. In 2008, she came 3rd against some the world's best surfers in the women's ASP World Qualifying Series...Bethany Hamilton is a true inspiration to us all!