Like with all sports, surfing has its heroes. Young and old, these individuals have changed how the world views surfing and have some incredible stories to go with it!
Bethany Hamilton
Bethany Hamilton is a Hawaai local and Surf Hall of Famer, born in 1990. She was raised surfing and knew the ocean like the back of her hand! But at age 13, tragedy struck.
Bethany became one in a small pool of statistical Shark Attacks, the victim of a 14-foot tiger shark. While surviving the attack, she was left with a missing arm. It would be a career-ending injury if it were anybody else, but not this incredibly resilient girl.
Within a month, she was back on the board, and within two years, her tenacity and fight for life earned her her first national surfing title. The first of many awards to come, as a matter of fact.
Married in 2013, she’s now the mother of three beautiful kids and still as attached to water as she was before. She is still an active professional surfer, competing globally alongside other remarkable people.
She’s an incredibly inspiring person and has been a true hero to amputees worldwide; that determination and passion are all needed to succeed! Bethany puts it all down to faith, but we’re convinced her unbelievable journey wouldn’t have been possible without the strength she showed.
Davi Teixeira
Davi Teixeira is a fresh face to the surfing scene but has managed to make waves in the community as the youngest surfer to compete in the first-ever ISA World Adaptive Games, where he brought home a silver medal.
The young Brazilian surfer was born with a congenital disorder known as Amniotic Band Syndrome, which has left him with fewer fingers. Still, he is no less committed to the sport!
Davi is said to have infectious energy and a contagious smile that lights up the room wherever he may be. His journey is still starting out, but the young surfer already shows immense promise and has even garnered the attention of Brazilian champion Gabriel Medina.
He’s become a sweeping sensation, inspiring many with his strength and charisma for the sport. He has overcome the challenges he faces in everyday life; we can expect greatness from the spirited teen whose incredible character and strength are an inspiration to many.
Mark “Mono” Stewart
Mark “Mono” Stewart was only 15 years old when he learned he had Osteosarcoma, a form of bone cancer. He fought hard for nearly 2 years, losing a portion of his right leg in the process.
The diagnosis was not great, with Mark only finding out later in life that doctors had given him 2 years to live. While the news was a shock to the system at first, he’s come to accept it and is grateful that it was hidden from him. He attributes his fighting spirit to his passion for surfing.
He was raised surfing, going every weekend with his father to hit the waves in Nimbin, and it didn’t take long after his amputation to find his way back to the water. He’s a beacon of hope and strength amongst the surf community and living proof that doing what you love is one of the most rewarding things in life.
Kelly Slater
Everyone in the surfing community (unless they live under a rock) knows the name, Kelly Slater. He’s an icon who’s been making waves in the community for decades. He has even expanded his career to include acting and writing.
He’s been crowned with eleven world titles and an astonishing run throughout his lifetime, being labeled as one of the best competitive surfers out there. And despite all the fame and glory, he is still one of the most humble individuals you’ll meet!
Kelly has inspired thousands of people to hit the waves and encourages young surfers to find their passion for the sport, no matter their backgrounds. He’s had his setbacks where injuries and mental health had kept him away from the waves for a stretch, but he never once let the tough times tie him down for long.
There’s no midlife crisis for Kelly; he’s still thriving on the shores of global beaches and hunting for new titles to add to his dozens of wins throughout the years.
Without Kelly, the sport wouldn’t be what it is right now, and as a result, he’s become a beacon to all who dare to live their life on the pipeline.
Humble, charitable, influential. These are a mere few words to describe what an incredible man Kelly Slater is.
Khadjou Sambe
Khadjou Sambe is the first female professional surfer hailing from Senegal. Since the start of her career, she has seen herself as someone pushing the boundaries.
She had rarely ever seen girls surfing, and even furthermore, cultural differences made it difficult for her to seek approval for the hobby from her family and community.
But she never let it stop her. At 14, she was sneaking out her window in a fit of rebellion to hit the waters. Her passion flowered into a movement, and now she stands proud as both a professional surfer and an advocate for the black surfing community.
She’s been overstepping obstacles throughout her journey and perseveres despite naysayers and cultural setbacks making it difficult.
Khadjou is a great example of why pushing the boundary is necessary. It has opened the door for many others to follow in her steps. She coaches surfing through Black Girls Surf, bringing the dreams of young female surfers to life and setting in motion a new passion in girls who previously never thought it possible.
And she does all of this with a smile and an infectious personality. You can’t help but love her.
Conclusion
So if you have an inspiring story to tell and a passion for the ocean, why not let the awesome instructors at North Shore Beach Boyz show you the ropes of surfing?
You can enjoy time in the ocean, inspire crowds of fans and make friends, all with the salty sea beneath your board and a little bit of courage to start. Who knows? Maybe one day, people will be shouting your name from the shoreline. Sounds great, doesn’t it?
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