Bethany Hamilton - Be Unstoppable: The Art of Never Giving Up

For all the people who have helped and supported me

in my surfing career along the way

BETHANY

ZONDERVAN

Be Unstoppable

Copyright 2018 by Surfs Like A Girl, LLC

Requests for information should be addressed to:

Zondervan, 3900 Sparks Dr. SE, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49546

ISBN 978-0-310-76485-4

Epub Edition May 2018 9780310764908

Scripture quotations are from the ESV Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version). Copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Any Internet addresses (websites, blogs, etc.) and telephone numbers in this book are offered as a resource. They are not intended in any way to be or imply an endorsement by Zondervan, nor does Zondervan vouch for the content of these sites and numbers for the life of this book.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meanselectronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any otherexcept for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior permission of the publisher.

Photos by Aaron Lieber unless otherwise noted.

Photos: Mike Nulty;

pages Tom Servais;

pages Agustin Muoz

Interior design: Ron Huizinga

Printed in the China

18 19 20 21 /LPC/ 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Contents

Its been a joy just to be part of Bethanys journey and see what shes been able to accomplish. I always knew what she was capable of, but the level shes at now is pretty incredible. She definitely gives it her best, and she surprises a lot of people.

TOM HAMILTON,

Bethanys first surfing coach (and dad)

I started working with Bethany because I saw that she was one of the best female surfers in the world, but no one had properly captured it. Over the four years of filming Unstoppable, we faced a lot of uncertainty and challenges. But I realized early on that I didnt need all the answers. I just needed to have faith, to be resourceful, to enjoy the process, and to surround Bethany and myself with amazing people who could help make it possible. I hope this book and movie sparks an idea in youto work hard, to adapt, to enjoy the process and never give up. With hard work, a dream that may seem impossible can eventually become a reality.

AARON LIEBER,

filmmaker, Bethany Hamilton: Unstoppable

Im Bethany. Im known as a professional surfer, but Im also a wife, mom, health enthusiast, motivational speaker, Christian, and more. Im stoked to be sharing this book with you! Its full of photos and messages I hope will inspire you to follow your dreams.

Ive had a massive passion for surfing and the ocean ever since I was a young girl growing up in Hawaii. In the water, I felt invincible, so at eight years old I set my sights on becoming the best surfer I could be.

But Ive found life doesnt always go the way we plan. In 2003, while surfing, a fateful encounter with a shark resulted in the loss of my left arm. I felt as though my hopes had been stripped away, my future left unknown. At times, I struggled with depression, insecurity, and fear, but my faith in God was greater than my hardships. Having hope in Gods promise strengthened me to be brave. Through my personal drive and the support of my family, I recommitted to my passion. Even with one arm and some doubt, I was determined to get in the ocean again and surf.

Im happy to say I achieved my dream. Im a professional surfer with a one-of-a-kind career path. The route I envisioned at eight years old shifted dramatically over time, but I wouldnt change a thing. For the last four years, I have partnered with the talented film director Aaron Lieber to create the exciting documentary Bethany Hamilton: Unstoppable. This film highlights the awesome journey of my life, and my pursuit to tackle the most challenging surf conditions around the world and become the best surfer I can be. Through making the film, we captured the photos youll see in this book.

This was a dream journey for metraveling to surf some of the best waves in the world, working hard toward my personal surfing goals of riding some of the biggest and most challenging waves. But it wasnt always easy. I had some major wipeouts and unexpected life changes along the way.

It can be hard to hold on to your dreams. I know many of you face some of the same things that Ive dealt withfears, insecurities, failures, and pressuresand I want to encourage you to follow your passion just as fiercely as Ive followed mine. My hope is that this book and the film will inspire you to pursue your hearts desire and stick with it even through tough times. Remember, the best things in life dont come easy, so persevere, overcome, and BE UNSTOPPABLE!

Im so thankful to have grown up in Hawaii, the birthplace of surfing. Surfing here has made me the surfer I am in a lot of ways, especially with access to bigger, more powerful waves, and having a family of chargers to push my own determination to charge! I was challenged at an early age to overcome a fear of big waves. And I continued to overcome that as I grew up.

So many incredible surfers are from these islands. As my friend and fellow Hawaii surfer Coco Ho has said, We were ahead of the game because of each other collectively. It is so true. Talent and inspiration constantly surrounded me every time I paddled out to surf.

From beach breaks to powerful point breaks and everything in between, Hawaii is a breeding ground for well-rounded surfers. And I love this simple lifestyle: all you need is a bikini and surfboard to have a great adventure.

The challenge of my life has always been to exceed my own expectations and push my limits. What inspires me is simple: being the best I can be in whatever Im doing.

Even though Im an experienced surfer and I feel confident in my ability, it took a long time and a lot of support to get here. I thrive off coachingit gives me that extra edge. I love advice on how to get better and improve myself.

Adapting takes time and persistence. There are days of struggle, but that doesnt stop me from learning and practicing.

Ive had to deal with some big fears: One, my arms gone, so how am I going to face my future? And two, sharks will always be in the ocean. But I believe we can do amazing things when we focus on our abilities rather than our fears.