Jetty Girl Interview
JettyGirl: Any New Year's resolutions for 2008?
Bethany Hamilton: Ya. Be more devoted to Jesus, up my physical fitness, and work on airs!
JG: If you were to donate time or money to a charitable organization or cause in 2008, what would it be and why?
BH: World Vision, feed hungry kids and give them hope through Jesus. Focus on the needs of disabled children around the world (like providing prosthetics and wheelchairs, pediatric surgery, building therapeutic facilities, and more). Provide an education to girls.
JG: Judging on any category you find relevant, name five female surfers to watch for in 2008 and why.
BH: Judging on surfing skills and contest performance, look out for these girls in 2008: Steph Gilmore, Carissa Moore, Coco Ho, Sally Fitzgibbons and Alana Blanchard.
Exclusive Interview with Bethany
- What are some of your favorite places to surf?
Any place on Kauai, especially Pinetrees (my home break)!
- What are some cool colors that you love?
blue (like the ocean), green (like the Kauai mountains), orange (like a
beautiful sunset)
- Do you get recognized a lot on the streets/places?
Ya, pretty much everywhere I go someone recognizes me.
-What does your regular surf training session look like? Running?
Swimming? Weights?...
To train for surfing, I surf and swim or run (if there's no surf)! I have
to do weights and other exercises to balance out the muscles in my back &
stomach, since I only use one arm for everything.
-Do you mind the media that you are getting?
I'm pretty used to it now. It can be fun, but it can be tiring and
stressful too.
-When can we expect to hear more about your movie? What's cooking?
Yes, we will keep you as informed as we can! Becky will post everything
we can tell you on my website on the movie page.
-Do you and Alana still get to surf together at times with all the
busy schedules?
Ya, we surf together here and there, but I?m traveling so much that I
hardly ever see Alana. I?m really excited that we're going on a surf trip together
with other girls from the Rip Curl surf team this summer!
(www.ripcurl.com
-What was one of your worst wipeouts like?
One of my worst wipeouts was a really big day at this reef break on
Kauai. I was riding this wave that was almost double overhead. I got tossed over
the falls and hit the reef pretty hard then got dragged across the reef. I
got really bad reef rash and cuts all over my right leg, butt, and arm.
-Are you a lefty or a righty?
I write with my right hand, and I surf, skate & snowboard "goofyfooted"
(a right foot forward stance on the board).
-Can you name a passion other than surfing that you love?
I love art, soccer, photography, and music!
-Lastly if anyone wanted to try-out or donate stuff to your movie
who do we contact and when.
Exlcusive Interview from Surfing Magazine
Alana Blanchard 15 yrs old
First Wave: "I don't even remember. It was probably down at Hanalei pier, when I was like, two or something. My dad pushed me into a wave and I ended up at the pier"
First Board: "My first board was a mini-tanker, like 7'0"."
First Pipeline Experience: Just the contest last year. It was fun- a good experience. I think it's really cool to surf Pipe with only four people out and to get a chance to surf it with all those girls."
First Crush: "Probably when I was in, like, kindergarten or first grade or something.
First thing you do in the morning: "Put on my bathing suit"
First good result: "My first contest was a longboard contest at Pinetrees. I got fourth"
First time you were scared in a contest: "At Sunset when I was, like 12- an NSSA contest. To me, it was big and all the girls were outside trying to catch waves."
First thing you do on a Saturday:"Wake up and go surfing with my friends."
First spot you check when you're home: "Pinetrees. It's like, 10 minutes away from my house."
First surfer you looked up to: "My dad."
Favorite Wave: "Hanalei Bay."
The worst you've ever been worked: "At this place called Middles. It's a left into the bay, and it's really gnarly. Me and my friend Bethany got caught inside- oh no- wait- I think it was just me and I was all alone and got spun all around and stuff."
First surfer you ever wanted to be like: "Rochelle Ballard, because she's really good and she, like, charges."
First time you got in trouble: "When I was five. I stole money from my parents. I just liked money; I liked having it. My parents saw that their money was all gone and then they saw that I had it."
Favorite Meal: "I really like fruit and smoothies."
credit- surfing magazine
Personal questions answered by Bethany...
What is one of your favorite things to cook?? - I like to experiment making different kinds of Fruit & Nut loaves (made without wheat).
How many surfbaords do you own at the moment? - Over 20
Did you start off longboarding? - Ya, when I was little.
Do you and Alana still try and keep in touch? - Ya, we surf together sometimes when I'm home, and we travel together sometimes.
What is one of the most precious things a fan has said to you? - – I don’t know... that I inspired them, maybe.
Are you enjoying the HoaSS premieres? - Ya, they have been really fun and it's cool to see God speak to people through the movie.
What is your advice to aspiring surfers of any age? - Just have fun!
Can you give us one of your favorite verses from the Bible? - Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will direct your path."
What kind of sandals do you like to wear? - Comfy ones.
Do you have any role model surfers that are well known? - Stephanie Gilmore, Carissa Moore, and a few others
Thank you for doing the interview with Soul Sisters at www.bethanyandalana.com.
Any last advice or feedback?? - Love life!!!
Here's some more questions she answered for fans recently, just in case more people are thinking the same questions...
Do you fund anyone?? - I sponsor some kids through World Vision
Who has inspired you most? - so many people, but I'd say Jesus Christ has the most!
I've read alot of info and stories but were you honestly scared to go out for the first time again? - Not really. But for split second, when I was having trouble getting up with one arm, I got a little scared thinking I might not be able to do it... but then I kept trying and did it!
Are you actually pro now? (some articles say yes and some say no?) - I don't consider myself pro. But most other people think I am. I'm just starting to surf in the pro contests this year.
Are you coming out with anything else besides your jewelry and perfume? - books, documentary, there's that feature film being made about my story, and t-shirts!
And your doing a new book and movie right? How are they going? - the movie's going really good so far, and I've been getting good feedback from people who have read the books!
I wanted to ask your advise on how to do clean smooth cutbacks...?
here's a few tips for the cutbacks:
- bend your knees to keep good balance
- look to where you're going
- your hands & upper body are important to your speed and direction, so keep your upper body pointing to where you want to go and use your arms to help.
- you'll want to put more of your weight on your back foot when you're going into the turn
(for more surf tips, check out Surfline.com)
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