Casshew
01-11-2004, 07:33 PM
KAILUA-KONA, Hawaii (AP) - Teen surfer Bethany Hamilton returned to competition Saturday, just 10 weeks after losing her left arm in a shark attack.
The 13-year-old Hamilton placed fifth in her age group in the Open Women Division of a National Scholastic Surfing Association meet at Banyans.
"It was definitely a good start," Hamilton said.
It was Hamilton's first meet since the weekend before she was attacked Oct. 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 6-foot-2 surfboard into waves, and occasionally struggled when pushing off the board with one hand.
Full story from cnews (http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/WeirdNews/2004/01/11/310013-ap.html)
The 13-year-old Hamilton placed fifth in her age group in the Open Women Division of a National Scholastic Surfing Association meet at Banyans.
"It was definitely a good start," Hamilton said.
It was Hamilton's first meet since the weekend before she was attacked Oct. 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 6-foot-2 surfboard into waves, and occasionally struggled when pushing off the board with one hand.
Full story from cnews (http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/WeirdNews/2004/01/11/310013-ap.html)