Quotes from Bethany Hamilton

I believe in Jesus Christ, and I believe He gave me the passion and determination to continue surfing. You fall off the horse, and you get back on. I had to go for it.

Like, with one arm I know I can surf, but competitive surfing can be really frustrating, and sometimes you don't do as well as you want to. It can be discouraging at times. But whenever I do get frustrated, I just focus on God.

I don't know how long I'll be competing, but I'll always be surfing. I'll be surfing until I'm old.

I'm just waiting for God to tell me what to do, but whatever it is, I want to be doing something like I am doing now-serving God and helping people.

God created the heavens and the earth, the oceans and the waves for our enjoyment. Surfing is just my way of worshipping Him.

None of us are going to have perfect lives. Our own vision of what we think is good maybe different from what He [God] thinks. And we forget that. We think we know what's best and we don't.

Being creative on the waves is challenging, but we each create art in our own way.

Courage, sacrifice, determination, commitment, toughness, heart, talent, guts. That's what little girls are made of; the heck with sugar and spice.

I don't want easy, just possible.

Being able to turn to Jesus after the shark attack kept me alive.

Your looks do not define who you are.

The paramedic whispered in my ear 'God will never leave you or forsake you.'

You fall off the horse and you get back on.

One arm might handicap me a little in competition, but I just work with what changes I know I have to make, and I'm pretty used to it now. It mainly depends on the wave conditions... I only get half the waves everyone else rides, so mine have to be good!

Courage, sacrifice, determination, commitment, toughness, heart, talent, guts. That's what little girls are made of.

I don't care to be famous. But at the same time, you look at all the role models these little girls have, and they don't have anyone to look up to. I mean, it's weird, but if I just hid out and didn't let myself be known, who would they look up to instead, you know?

Life is a lot like surfing… When you get caught in the impact zone, you've got to just get back up. Because you never know what may be over the next wave.

Life is full of what-ifs. You can't let it hold you back. If you do, you're not really living at all… just kind of going through the motions with no meaning

I think it doesn't matter if you are the best surfer in the world. I'm going to try to be the best surfer I can be. It's not all about competing and being the best. It's more about having fun and just doing what you love.

My strength came from my relationship with Christ and from the love and encouragement of my family and friends.

I can't change it, That was God's plan for my life and I'm going to go with it.

I guess I just like to challenge myself and push myself harder to do things that I don't think I can, to do things that other people do not think I can. It pushes me. I push my own personal limits.

Growing up, I was blessed to be part of a great church. This is where I met many friends who have encouraged me in my life to live strong for Christ. My church is a place where I can develop friendships with others that will encourage me in my walk with Christ.

It's been amazing to touch people's lives.