Can Bethany Hamilton Do It Again At The Fiji Pro?

Kelly Slater called Bethany Hamilton's semi-final (3rd place) finish at last year's Fiji Pro World Tour contest "arguably unparalleled in men's or women's sport."

Despite having just one-arm, the Hawaiian shark attack survivor beat world champion, Tyler Wright, and six-time world champion, Stephanie Gilmore, on her way to what many have called the greatest surfing performance ever.

"I think everyone should have a full surf with one arm strapped to their side and attempt not only to paddle out but put themselves in position at heavy spots like Pipe, Jaws, and Cloudbreak, and try to get up on a short board," challenged Slater on Instagram.

"I'm scared to try it myself and ridiculously impressed with her talents," he wrote.

Bethany, who lost her arm to a Tiger Shark in 2003, aged 13, while surfing at home in Kauai, has once again been given the wildcard to compete in the 2017 World Tour event at Fiji's famed Cloudbreak.

The wave - a hollow, grinding, dangerous, open-ocean, reef break - is considered one of the best and most challenging surf spots in the world. Hamilton, who grew up in the powerful waves of Kauai where she surfed alongside three-time men's world champion, the late Andy Irons, and current World Tour star, Sebastian Zeitz, will be at home in the conditions, despite her disability.

"Last year was amazing, yet I know I have to focus and go into the event fresh; it is a new year and, as usual, competition will be tough," she said.

Before losing her arm, the 13-year-old was already on her way to becoming one of the best surfers in the world. Even with one arm she has managed a runner-up in the World Junior Championships in 2008, losing by a point to current French World Tour surfer, Pauline Ado.

Later that year she fell just two heats short of qualifying for the World Tour.

Her one-armed heroics in waves of consequence such as Pipeline, Teahupoo, Padang and Cloudbreak, meanwhile, have earned her countless magazine spreads and coverage.

She famously surfed Pipeline and Teahupoo while pregnant and was towed into 30 to 40 feet waves at Jaws in Hawaii six months after giving birth. She has also stuck an air-reverse, a move many able-bodied female professionals have yet to master.

A documentary on her life since the attack is set to be released shortly.

She lines up against World Champion, Tyler Wright, and Hawaiian Tatiana Weston-Webb in Round One of the Fiji Pro, beginning May 28th.