Bethany Hamilton awarded Fiji Pro Wildcard

Bethany Hamilton ®AaronLieber

TAVARUA/NAMOTU, Fiji, Tuesday May 24th 2016 –  Bethany Hamilton will join the world’s best female surfers for Stop No. 5 on the 2016 Samsung Galaxy WSL Championship Tour, the Fiji Women’s Pro, from May 29 – June 3, 2016.

Bethany Hamilton (HAW), global sporting icon and shark attack survivor, has been allocated the WSL Wildcard for the Fiji Women’s Pro. Since her traumatic shark attack at home in 2003 in which she lost her left arm, Hamilton has become a global sporting inspiration and a bonafide world-class surfer. Particularly adept in sizable lefthand reef passes, Hamilton poses a considerable threat to the top seeds when competition gets underway.

 

“I am so excited to have the opportunity to be competing in the women’s event at Cloudbreak,” Hamilton said. “I’ve been dreaming of surfing and competing there for years and I think the wave will suit my surfing! Seeing all the swell headed to Fiji has me pumped up! I know I’ll have to surf strong and be heat smart to do well, I believe I can!”

Bethany Hamilton ®AaronLieber

“When the contest starts is around the time I gave birth to my son Tobias last year. It’s been an amazing year full of beauty and challenge becoming a mom but also continuing my surfing career. I’ve loved working hard and I am feeling strong and sharp. With a lot of cross training and coming off a recent surf trip filming my film Surfs Like a Girl I feel good heading into this contest.”

Bethany Hamilton ®Trent Mitchell

Bethany will join fellow Rip Curl riders Nikki Van Dijk (AUS) and Tyler Wright (AUS) in Round 1. Wright currently leads the WSL Top 17 as the Jeep Frontrunner heading into the prestigious event. The young Australian’s form has been undeniable in 2016, winning three of the first four events (Gold Coast, Margaret River and Rio de Janeiro) and finishing 5th at Bells Beach.

Fiji Women’s Pro Round 1 Match-Ups:

Heat 1: Tatiana Weston-Webb (HAW), Malia Manuel (HAW), Alessa Quizon (HAW)
Heat 2: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS), Bianca Buitendag (ZAF), Keely Andrew (AUS)
Heat 3: Tyler Wright (AUS), Nikki Van Dijk (AUS), Bethany Hamilton (HAW)
Heat 4: Courtney Conlogue (USA), Bronte Macaulay (AUS), Coco Ho (HAW)
Heat 5: Carissa Moore (HAW), Sage Erickson (USA), Chelsea Tuach (BRB)
Heat 6: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), Johanne Defay (FRA), Laura Enever (AUS)

The Fiji Women’s Pro will be webcast LIVE on WorldSurfLeague.com

Images / Video: Credit Aaron Lieber

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