Bethany Hamilton (HAW) has been awarded the coveted wildcard for the Swatch Women's Pro, which kicks off Wednesday, Sept. 9 local time, with a window until Sept. 20.
In a Skype interview with Joe Turpel, the Swatch Women's Pro wildcard talks motherhood and more.
The event will mark Hamilton's first appearance in competition since giving birth to her first child, Tobias Dirks, in June. The Hawaiian last battled some of the Top 17 women at the Women's Pipe Invitational in December 2014. In that exhibition heat, she took on reigning six-time WSL Champion Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), two-time WSL Champion Carissa Moore (HAW) and 2014 world title runner-up Tyler Wright (AUS) in double-overhead surf at Pipeline.
"Thrilled to accept the wildcard for the Swatch Women's Pro," Hamilton said. "I have been surfing and competing at Lowers since I was a young girl and love the wave! Looking forward to getting a jersey back on among the best!"
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Swatch Women's Pro wildcard
Bethany Hamilton (HAW) has competed in several Championship Tour events before, including the 2010 Rip Curl Pro Portugal. She placed equal ninth in conditions similar to what will likely be on offer at Lowers Trestles.
Plus: Read her interview.
- WSL / Kelly Cestari
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Hamilton, carving it up at the Gidget Pro Sunset 2009. The event, which no longer runs, was part of the women's Championship Tour at the time.
- WSL
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Hamilton, smashing the lip during the World Cup Sunset Beach in 2009.
- WSL
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That same year, Hamilton competed in the women's Rip Curl Pro Search event in Puerto Rico.
- WSL / Kirstin Scholtz
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Her most recent appearance in all-elite Tour lineup was at the
Women's Pipe Invitational in 2014 during the men's Billabong Pipe Masters. Hamilton placed third, ahead of reigning World Champion
Stephanie Gilmore (AUS).
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Hamilton, aiming for a heavy tube at Pipe.
- WSL / KC
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Although Hamilton is still competing on occasion, her newest focus is motherhood. She recently celebrated the birth of her first child with her husband, Adam Dirks. Her appearance at the Swatch Women's Pro comes less than four months after her son's arrival.
- WSL
"Bethany is one of the most inspiring surfers on the planet," Jessi Miley-Dyer, WSL Women's Commissioner, said. "She's incredibly powerful and tremendously talented and we're very happy to announce she'll compete alongside the world's best at the upcoming Swatch Women's Pro at Trestles.
"We've been speaking to her since early last season about potentially accepting a wildcard for a Championship Tour event," Miley-Dyer continued. "However, scheduling hasn't been in our favor until now and the WSL are very excited to see how she fares at one of the most high-performance waves on the planet."
Hamilton and her husband, Adam Dirks, had their first child in June. - WSL
Hamilton will take on current WSL No. 1 Courtney Conlogue (USA) and Silvana Lima (BRA) in Round 1.
Stop No. 7 on the 2015 Samsung Galaxy World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour (CT), will air LIVE here and on the WSL mobile app. The contest runs in conjunction with the Hurley Pro at Trestles, event No. 8 on the men's CT.
The event, which made its first appearance on the Women's Tour last year, remains on the schedule this season thanks to the support of Swatch, who have announced their continued support of the event through 2017.
Hamilton Awarded Wildcard for Swatch Women's Pro
WSL
Bethany Hamilton (HAW) has been awarded the coveted wildcard for the Swatch Women's Pro, which kicks off Wednesday, Sept. 9 local time, with a window until Sept. 20.
The event will mark Hamilton's first appearance in competition since giving birth to her first child, Tobias Dirks, in June. The Hawaiian last battled some of the Top 17 women at the Women's Pipe Invitational in December 2014. In that exhibition heat, she took on reigning six-time WSL Champion Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), two-time WSL Champion Carissa Moore (HAW) and 2014 world title runner-up Tyler Wright (AUS) in double-overhead surf at Pipeline.
"Thrilled to accept the wildcard for the Swatch Women's Pro," Hamilton said. "I have been surfing and competing at Lowers since I was a young girl and love the wave! Looking forward to getting a jersey back on among the best!"
"Bethany is one of the most inspiring surfers on the planet," Jessi Miley-Dyer, WSL Women's Commissioner, said. "She's incredibly powerful and tremendously talented and we're very happy to announce she'll compete alongside the world's best at the upcoming Swatch Women's Pro at Trestles.
"We've been speaking to her since early last season about potentially accepting a wildcard for a Championship Tour event," Miley-Dyer continued. "However, scheduling hasn't been in our favor until now and the WSL are very excited to see how she fares at one of the most high-performance waves on the planet."
Hamilton will take on current WSL No. 1 Courtney Conlogue (USA) and Silvana Lima (BRA) in Round 1.
Stop No. 7 on the 2015 Samsung Galaxy World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour (CT), will air LIVE here and on the WSL mobile app. The contest runs in conjunction with the Hurley Pro at Trestles, event No. 8 on the men's CT.
The event, which made its first appearance on the Women's Tour last year, remains on the schedule this season thanks to the support of Swatch, who have announced their continued support of the event through 2017.
Bethany Hamilton
Check out the full event pres. by First Hawaiian Bank and Mastercard recap with some of the event's best performances.
The event presented by First Hawaiian Bank and Mastercard will bring some of the island's top performers to the famed reefbreak June 17 -
Bethany Hamilton's appearance in the 2014 women's event at Pipe was just another example of her talent and determination.
Russell Bierke's BWA Ride Of The Year entry, Nathan Florence is the POV master, Bethany's 'In The Night' and an important new book.
Stephanie Gilmore and a right-hand point are a match made in heaven, Hamilton chasing a CT spot and the Ohana Fest at Doheny State Beach.
Swatch Women's Pro
Get to know the wave where the world's best will battle at the Hurley Pro and Swatch Pro. Featuring local shaper Matt "Mayhem" Biolos.
Watch the best action from the men's and women's CT events at Lower Trestles Sunday, October 4.
The Championship Tour surfers arrived, battled and conquered Lower Trestles, but the tunes behind it all live on.
Lost Surfboards' Matt "Mayhem" Biolos on the boards that took Carissa Moore back up to No. 1 at the Swatch Women's Pro.
The Hurley Pro and Swatch Women's Pro are complete and two former Tour leaders steal back the yellow jerseys.