Surfer returns after shark attack

TEENAGE surfer Bethany Hamilton returned to competition just 10 weeks after losing her left arm in a shark attack.

The 13-year-old Hamilton came fifth in her age group in the Open Women Division of a National Scholastic Surfing Association meet at Banyans over the weekend.

“It was definitely a good start,” Hamilton said.

It was Hamilton’s first competitive action since she was attacked on October 31, although she returned to the water Thanksgiving Day.

Hamilton began with a modest two-foot wave, but caught a six-footer during her quarter-final heat.

She kicked her left leg to help propel her six-foot-two surfboard into waves, and occasionally struggled when pushing off the board with one hand.

“Once I get up on the board, I’m OK,” Hamilton said. “Sometimes it’s hard to get there.”

Hamilton rejected any special treatment, said Bobbi Lee, NSSA Hawaii Conference director.

“I offered to give her more time (between heats) or put her in a more favourable heat,” Lee said.

“She refused. She said she wanted to be treated like anybody else.”