Bethany Hamilton: Shark Attack

A girl named Bethany Hamilton defeats all odds when she loses her arm in a shark attack. Through her faith and family she never loses her determination to get back on her board and return to competitive surfing. She has touched the lives of so many people with her charitable efforts, message, and her overall strength. She has become an inspiration for everyone around the world. Bethany shares her life story in the movie Soul Surfer, directed by Sean McNamara with performances by AnnaSophia Robb, Helen Hunt, and Carrie Underwood. The movie follows the life of Bethany Hamilton, a thirteen-year-old competitive surfer in Kauai, Hawaii. Even though Soul Surfer is based on a true story, the movie itself is only semi-accurate, as demonstrated by character, plot, and special effects.

As I looked backed at what seemed to be a decent sized wave, I started paddling with all my might, digging through the water, deeper and deeper. The wave came closer and I felt a push from my cousin as I caught the wave. “Stand up” my cousin yelled behind me as the monstrous wave began to swallow me up. I stood up, rode the wave all the way to the shore, and fell in love with the sport of surfing. Since that day, I have loved everything one could ever love about the sport: The salty water as it touched my body, the push of the wave as it stood me up on my smooth yet sticky board, and the exhilarating rush that I felt after every perfect ride. But not quite everything about the sport came easy to me, it took a long ride to find the love I have for the sport today. When I first started competitively surfing, I

In this case, becoming a professional surfer. Bethany didn’t even let her arm getting ripped off stop her from success. Bethany Hamilton didn’t have many weaknesses, but she did have one that affected her greatly. All she cared about was surfing. Rather than going to Mexico with her youth group, Bethany chose to stay home and surf. This is when she was attacked by the shark.

In this quote Bethany, the narrator is describing the surfing and its pros and cons. This quote is significant because it she shows why surfing is important to her.She describes the overall negative consequences of surfing but how its apart of the game. In the end all Bethany wants to do is surf and she will overcome anything to surf.

“Life is a lot like surfing…When you get caught in the impact zone, you’ve got to just get back up. Because you never know what may be over the next wave” (“Soul Surfer”). Bethany Hamilton endured a very traumatic experience in her life, and this is why she is known as the “Soul Surfer.” The difficulties she faced and overcame were truly remarkable.

She was very strong minded, determined and persistent. Bethany never gave up on her dream of being a professional surfer because she was not afraid anymore. She was not particularly afraid of getting attacked by another shark because she finally conquered her fear of never surfing again.

Never know how much someone needs something until it's gone. This was surfing to Bethany Hamilton. This is her story of fighting to get back in the water and all of the troubles that came with it.

Only about three shark attacks occur per year in Hawaii “I just got attacked!” Bethany Hamilton is a pro surfer, but she was attacked by a 15-foot tiger shark. Bethany Hamilton is amputee, elite surfer, and shows her resilience because she is brave, motivated and she is hardworking.

Her parents were passionate about surfing and they passed along their love of the beach to Bethany and her brothers, Noah and Timmy. When Bethany was eight, she joined the competitive surfing circuit. Her whole family became involved in her training. Her dad taught her techniques and surfing tips while her mom, Cheri, homeschooled her. Cheri was a strict teacher and made sure that Bethany never fell behind on her work while her brothers toughened her up for all her competitions. Bethany’s family taught her that it was okay to lose sometimes because there would always be a next time when she could win. Bethany’s attachment to surfing was in her blood as she said “Surfing is a force that moves your body and soul.” (Hamilton, 122). She practiced for hours everyday and loved everything about her surfing world especially her friends. As she began winning competitions, Bethany’s brother Noah started sending pictures of her surfing to various companies that manufactured clothing. Soon after that, the company Rip Curl sponsored Bethany and gave her free clothes and equipment to use while she surfed. Bethany was a rising star in the field of competitive

Bethany Hamilton was a world class surfer who won many surfing awards. She started surfing at age five, and was already in the most elite competitions by age 13. But, as she ran towards the ocean and shoved off from her board on Halloween 2003, her life would change forever. A tiger shark could ahold of her arm, and tugged with all his might. She had not felt any pain, but pressure. “With a strange calmness, Bethany stared at the stump on her shoulder where her arm used to be.” (Shark Attack Survivor).

Growing up in a family that Bethany was in surfing was built in her blood. Bethany has two brothers who push her, to be the best person she can be. Bethanys parents inspire her to be the best surfer she can be, because they were both amazing surfers according to Bethany. Bethany is in love with the sport of surfing, she says “once you do it, it becomes an addiction” (Hamilton 10). Growing up she was lucky to have so many family members older than her to look up to and be influenced by.

Bethany Hamilton showed great resilience in overcoming a shark attack in order to achieve her dreams. When she was thirteen years old, Bethany was attacked by a fifteen foot tiger shark. The shark seemed to be attracted to her watch on her left arm. She lost her left arm and was unsure if she would ever be able to surf again none the less become a professional surfer.

A shark attacks Three out of fifteen people every year… Bethany Hamilton, a championship surfer, was one of those unfortunate victims. Bethany was only thirteen when it happened; it was just a normal October morning at the beach, until tragedy struck. A fifteen-foot long tiger shark tore Bethany’s arm off, she was later brought to the local hospital. Bethany lost half of her blood, but she survived. But, there was a long road of recovery for Bethany, but no matter what happened she wanted to get back to the water. Bethany worked hard and showed great resilience during recovery in order to achieve her dreams of getting back to the water, and start surfing again.

She was motivated to surf again. “The day before Thanksgiving, Bethany went to the beach for the first time since the attack” (Shark Attack Survivor

It made a lot of things harder for her, but that doesn’t mean she gave up. Surfing was a big part of her life, and giving that up wasn’t going to happen. It was a rough process, but Bethany eventually gave up her fears and got back on her board. Lifeguards and doctors say it was her determination and faith in God that got her back up. In January 2004, Bethany made her big return in surf competitions. Her first competition after getting back on her board, she placed 5th place. With no intention of stopping, Bethany continued to enter and excel in competition. As Bethany put it, “It was what God had taught me growing up that helped me overcome my fear and get back on the board. ‘Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go’ (Joshua