Bethany Hamilton (HAW) has been awarded the coveted wildcard into the Swatch Women’s Pro and will compete alongside the world’s best female surfers in just two weeks time.
The event will mark Hamilton’s first appearance in competition since giving birth to son Tobias Dirks in June of this year. The Hawaiian last took part in an event during the Women’s Pipe Invitational in December 2014 when 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 amongst 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 to 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 the opening Round of competition.