February 21, 2025 • 20 mins
Wanna catch a wave? In this groovy episode of the Lingokids Podcast, Emily and Luis grab their surfboards and hit the beach to explore the fun and exciting world of surfing!🏄♂️
They meet legendary pro surfer Bethany Hamilton, who lives in Hawaii and has surfed almost EVERY wave in the world 🌊. Want to know what makes a good surfing board? Or how you can learn to surf even if you don’t live near the ocean? Plus, Bethany shares her DREAM wave to ride!
🌊 Get ready for an epic, salty, and sandy adventure!
Episode Transcript
***** Parents, in the Lingokids app, we have plenty of interactive activities, games, songs, and more that blend educational subjects and modern life skills to help get your kids ready for today's changing world! From math to making friends, reading to resilience, collaboration, creativity, and so much more, spark curiosity, imagination, and success with Lingokids! *****
A Lingokids Original podcast produced by Studio Ochenta
Starring Emily Calandrelli as Herself and Parker James Logie as Luis
Guest: Bethany Hamilton
With additional production support from:
Head Writers: Maru Lombardo and Luis López
Production Coordinators: Catalina Hoyos
Editor: Luis López
Theme Song Written by: Fredrika Stahl
Theme Song Composed by: Fredrika Stahl
Music Production: Dimitri Peronno
Theme Song Performed by: The Angel City Youth Chorale directed by Heather Catalena
Recording Engineers: Bill Trousdale at Audiovisions and Jason Schimmel at Bunker Studios
Legal Services: Lisa Nitti, Ludye Nisol, Alix d’Argentré
Special thanks to: Bethany Hamilton, Ivy Lasky and Adam Dirks
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:03):
You know, I was put in the ocean before I
could walk. I do vividly remember like one of my
surf contests when I was like five years old, I
think it was, and just remember like the water being
so blue and pretty. Once I got older, I got
started surfing more serious waves. So I started going up
(00:25):
to the deep water waves where you can't stand on
the bottom, and you know there are bigger fishes out there.
I am known as a professional surfer. I lost my
arm when I was thirteen years old, and I continued
surfing after that, and so I'm like one of those
rare humans that surfs with one arm, and I just
(00:46):
love what I get to do. You know, when life
gives you lemons, make lemonade. So that's kind of me
in a nutshell.
Speaker 2 (00:53):
You're listening to Bethany Hamilton, an amazing pro surfer who
has won tons of compet titians all over the world.
She's the star of very inspirational movies like Soul Surfer
and Bethany Hamilton Unstoppable, and today she's chatting with us
on Growing Up. Welcome to Growing Up, the Lingo Kids
(01:19):
podcast that encourages kids to dream big and discover who
they want to be.
Speaker 3 (01:47):
We're on the coasts of Peru, a country in South America,
right in front of the Pacific Ocean, and here waves
can get big, very very big.
Speaker 4 (01:58):
Look at dad, Maxie. Those ways are kind of scary,
aren't they. No worries they won't reach us. It's just
a movie. Here, have some popcorn, but don't tell mom
about it, Okay, good boy.
Speaker 3 (02:12):
Just off the coasts of Peru, some fishermen go out
to catch fish, but they don't do it alone. They
ride on special boats called kabahitos, which means little horses.
Speaker 4 (02:23):
Ah cool name. I bet it's because they're riding the
boats like if there were horses. Get it, Maxi.
Speaker 3 (02:32):
And this right here is one of the oldest kinds
of surfing in the whole white world.
Speaker 4 (02:37):
Surfing, No way, surfing is like skateboarding, but in the water, Maxi.
I's not only people in Hawaii surfed. You know, Hawaii
is an island and they have so many waves over there.
I love that at school.
Speaker 3 (02:53):
Oh yes, far far away in the Pacific Ocean on
the island of Hawaii. Surfing has also been popped for
centuries only. Instead of kabaitos, the ancient people of Hawaii
used to make surfboards.
Speaker 4 (03:07):
Look, MAXI the surfboard is that wooden table that man
standing on. Yeah, I'd paint my surf for Neon Green two.
Speaker 3 (03:15):
For ancient Hawaiians, surfing wasn't just something they did for fun.
It was how they felt close to the ocean, which
was sacred for their culture.
Speaker 4 (03:24):
So cool.
Speaker 3 (03:26):
Today, surfing is popular in many countries around the world.
Some people even allow their dogs to surf, and let
me say they do it pretty well.
Speaker 4 (03:36):
You're right, Maxie, you've never been to the beach before.
You'll have so much fun. I love building sand castles,
splashing in the water and swimming. Oh this time we
can try surfing.
Speaker 3 (03:49):
But remember, if you want to try surfing yourself, first
seek help from a grown up coach or a pro surfer. Gotcha,
Now go catch some waves.
Speaker 4 (03:59):
Okay day is officially on.
Speaker 5 (04:03):
Hi Louise.
Speaker 2 (04:06):
Enjoying the Go Forward movie theater.
Speaker 4 (04:08):
Yes, Emily, quick question, do you know anything about surfing? Mmm?
Speaker 2 (04:14):
I know it's super fun and I know that waves
can be very challenging to ride too.
Speaker 4 (04:20):
Yeah, I just watched this movie about the history of surfing.
Now I want to go to the beach. So Maxie
and I can surf. Problem is, well, we've never surfed before.
Can you help us out please?
Speaker 2 (04:33):
Well, lucky for you, I know a real surfing expert.
Speaker 4 (04:37):
You mean, like someone who has an actual surfboard, more.
Speaker 2 (04:41):
Like someone who's inspired millions with her surfing. Her name
is Bethany Hamilton. She has won tons of surfing competitions
and she's been surfing since she was a little kid,
kid like me. That's right. Why don't we go meet her?
Speaker 4 (05:00):
Of course I want to meet a super duper surfer
rock star. Okay, Massey, this is big. We're talking actual
surf advice from an actual surfing person. Of course, I'll
ask Bethany about surfing dogs too.
Speaker 2 (05:15):
Let's go then, welcome to our very own talking game show. Today,
we are speaking to the one and only Bethany Hamilton.
Bethany is a lifelong pro surfer and she's also behind
Beautifully Flawed Foundation, and together they help people who lost
(05:37):
arms or legs live happier lives.
Speaker 4 (05:40):
Hi, Bethany, Aloha, Bethany Aloha.
Speaker 1 (05:43):
I'm Bethany Hamilton, Derek's I am known as a professional surfer.
I lost my arm when I was thirteen years old.
And I continued surfing after that, and so I'm like
one of those rare humans that surfs with one arm
and I just love what I get to do.
Speaker 2 (06:00):
You are a rare human being indeed, who started surfing
when you were a baby, right.
Speaker 1 (06:05):
I was born and raised in Kauai, Hawaii, and I
still live there, So I pretty much grew up on
the beach as my playground, the ocean as my playground.
Both my mom and dad surfed, and same with my
older brothers too, so we were just a surfing family.
Speaker 3 (06:20):
You know.
Speaker 1 (06:21):
I was put in the ocean before I could walk,
and by the time I was like eight or nine,
that's when I really like started catching my own waves
and gaining more confidence in the ocean and just having
a lot of fun out there.
Speaker 5 (06:32):
What a fun childhood.
Speaker 4 (06:34):
Yeah, do you remember the first wave you ever served? Bitsany?
Speaker 1 (06:38):
I do vividly remember like one of my surf contests
when I was like five years old, I think it was,
and just remember like the water being so blue and pretty,
and there's these funny moves you can do on a surfboard,
like they call it a dying cockroach.
Speaker 4 (06:56):
Dying cockroach, Maxie, please don't eat one, please.
Speaker 2 (07:01):
I wouldn't recommend it either anyway. What's the dying cockroach move?
Speaker 1 (07:06):
Like, Bethany, So you lay down on the surfboard on
your back, and then you put your legs in the
arm and like kick them up and down and look
like a little cockroach on your back. And then another
thing you could do is like you're on the board
and you do a spinner, so you spin in a
circle and then you land back on your feet.
Speaker 4 (07:24):
They sound so much fun. I want to try them. Wait,
but Bethany, the ocean is so full of sea animals
and see things, and it's just so much sea. Weren't
you scared of it as a kid.
Speaker 1 (07:37):
When I was little, I was surfing in really shallow water,
so if I fell off my surfboard, I could stand
right up. It wasn't like I was going out into
the deep blue, and I wasn't worried about sharks or
fishes or anything like that because the environment that my
parents brought me to is super inviting. Once I got older,
(07:57):
I got started surfing more serious way, So I started
going out to the deep water waves where you can't
stand on the bottom, and you know there are bigger
fishes out there.
Speaker 2 (08:08):
And around that time is when you had your accident.
Speaker 1 (08:12):
Right, Every surfer thinks about sharks at one point or another,
but you never think it's gonna actually happen to you.
But I'm one of those rare humans that it happened
to you.
Speaker 4 (08:23):
You're a super strong surfer. Like, how did you even
keep surfing after the shark attack?
Speaker 3 (08:29):
You know?
Speaker 1 (08:29):
And when life gives you lemons, make lemonade. So that's
kind of me in a nutshell.
Speaker 4 (08:35):
Oh lemons, aren't they sour?
Speaker 2 (08:38):
Oh yeah, Louise, lemons can be sour. But what Bethany
means is that when tricky stuff happens, it's like getting
sour lemons, right, But if you squeeze lemons and then
add a bit of sugar, you get a delicious drink
like lemonade. The same thing is in life, when life
(08:59):
gets tricky, you can get something good out of a
bad situation.
Speaker 4 (09:03):
Oh, I get it. I'll remember it. When life gives
you lemons, make lemonade. There you go.
Speaker 2 (09:11):
That's such a valuable lesson, don't you think. Yeah, And
of course you got back to surfing even after this
horrific accident. How was it to go back in the ocean.
Speaker 1 (09:23):
Oh my goodness. Well, honestly, the first session I had
after I lost my arm was probably one of the
most memorable days I've ever had in the ocean. You know.
I had a lot of fear, thinking like I might
not be able to surf with one arm, and so
I went out there just willing to try, willing to
put myself out there, willing to do something really hard.
(09:47):
And the first few tries I fell and fumbled off
the board and it felt hard and scary.
Speaker 2 (09:53):
Wow, that sounds really hard. What or who helped you
believe you could do it.
Speaker 1 (10:01):
My dad was there and he's like, hey, now that
you have one arm, you got to do things a
little different. And so next wave, I put my hand
in the center of the board, whereas normally you put
both hands on the side rails, and it was just
a small little wave, and I popped up and rode
that wave all the way to the beach and just
had the best tears of joy and like a feeling
(10:22):
of accomplishment, like Wow, I just did it, Like I
just surfed with one arm. And then from then on
it was like there's no turning back, like let's go,
We're doing this. It just felt kind of healing and
like I didn't have to lose my greatest passion or love.
Speaker 2 (10:41):
You're a true example of courage and believing in yourself, Bethany.
And after all that hard work, you became an actual
pro surfer in competitions? What does it take to be
a pro surfer?
Speaker 1 (10:55):
So when I was younger, when I was about nine
years old, I joined my local team and they offered
a surf coach to coach us once a week, and
so we'd go and run heats, like pretend like we're
surfing in a competition with each other, and our coach
would judge us and give us feedback and give us
tips on how we can, you know, get better at
(11:17):
our sport. My parents would also film me out there,
film me surfing with a camcorder, and so I would
go home and watch the footage after. I'm so grateful
my parents would do that.
Speaker 4 (11:29):
Hey, my dad does that too. He records me all
the time.
Speaker 2 (11:33):
I bet he says things like you'll love this when
you're older.
Speaker 4 (11:37):
Yeah, just like that. Wait, how did you know, Emily.
Speaker 2 (11:41):
I'm a mom too. I do the same with my kids.
Speaker 4 (11:44):
Cool, So recording all the time to be a pro
surfer check what else do we need to do to
be pros Bethany.
Speaker 1 (11:51):
There's little details like figuring out your surfboards.
Speaker 4 (11:56):
Really, why are surfboards so important?
Speaker 1 (12:00):
Some surfboards work better than other surfboards. So sometimes I
would only ride a surfboard three times and then I
would either sell it or give it back to the shaper.
And then even the type of fins you put on
your surfboard, so that's on the bottom of the board,
and that's what helps you turn the surfboard. And there's different
types of fins you can use.
Speaker 4 (12:18):
Okay, No, dude, a cool night like me has to
ride a nice surfboard.
Speaker 1 (12:23):
Yeah, sometimes I would color on them, or I'd let
my friends who are really good artists color them. I've
even let my children now that I'm older and have children,
and it's always sad because at some point or another
they get old and kind of die or the waves
break them, and you're like, no, don't die on me surfboard,
(12:45):
and so yeah, you definitely have to take good care
of them.
Speaker 2 (12:48):
I can't imagine how many waves you've ridden with your surfboards, Bethany.
Speaker 4 (12:53):
Yeah, do you dream of riding like the super duper
perfect wave. Bethany.
Speaker 1 (12:59):
Well, there's there's one wave and this will probably surprise
a lot of you that it's in Namibia, Africa. There's
an incredible wave there that I've been dreaming of surfing
for like ten years. But it's such a far journey,
and the wave is also very rare, like, it doesn't
always work, it's not always breaking, it's not always good,
(13:20):
and when it's good, it's like a ten out of
a ten, and you can get what is called a
barrel where the wave breaks over top of your head
but you stay inside of the wave and it's like
you're in a little tunnel cave and it's the coolest
feeling ever. There's this barrel that you can have for
like twenty seconds.
Speaker 2 (13:40):
Oh I bet those twenty seconds feel like forever.
Speaker 1 (13:44):
It does. It truly does feel like an eternity, Bethany.
Speaker 2 (13:48):
Do you have any tips to learn how to surf
for people who don't live near the ocean.
Speaker 1 (13:54):
The first big challenge you have in the ocean is
just being able to catch the waves. It looks so easy,
but it's actually really hard, and it's kind of like
learning to read. First you learn your letters and then
you learn little words, and then you learn big words,
and then you read big books. So if you don't
live near the ocean, first learning how to swim super strong,
(14:15):
like kind of try to be an Olympic swimmer, so
to say, like swim one hundred laps or something like that.
Maybe fifty will be sufficient.
Speaker 4 (14:24):
Okay, swimming one million laps to become a pro surfer.
Speaker 3 (14:28):
Check.
Speaker 1 (14:28):
Another tip I would say is if you can learn
how to skateboard, so a lot of skateboarders will get
really good at surfing, and so everybody can access skateboarding.
You can buy a skateboard and learn how. I recommend
wearing the pads because when you fall in the ocean
it doesn't hurt so bad, but when you fall on
cement there can hurt really bad.
Speaker 4 (14:49):
Noted wearing pads when skateboarding so it doesn't hurt. Check.
Speaker 2 (14:55):
You got a good list of tips there, Louise Bethany,
thank you for this wonderful and inspiring chat. Louise, what
did you learn from today's interview?
Speaker 4 (15:06):
Wow, Emily, I can't believe anyone in the world can serf.
If you want to be super good at surfing, you
have to practice swimming a lot. You also have to
have a good surfboard for you. And if you're far
from the ocean, you can try skating to practice. Oh
and the biggest best ways don't come all the time,
but if you keep trying and practicing, you'll catch the
(15:27):
most awesome wave ever.
Speaker 5 (15:29):
That's on point, Louise.
Speaker 4 (15:31):
Maxie, we can go to the beach right after our
game show.
Speaker 2 (15:33):
Okay, I think we can actually play it on the beach, Louise, really,
where are we going? We're going to the beach. Bethany,
you want to join us?
Speaker 1 (15:45):
Cool, that's my favorite place in the world. Let's do it.
Speaker 4 (15:48):
Let's go, Maxie. We have some waves to catch, all right.
Speaker 2 (15:57):
Everyone, welcome to our very special well surf Trivia.
Speaker 5 (16:01):
At the beach.
Speaker 2 (16:03):
We've got the legendary Bethany Hamilton with us and we're
testing her surfing knowledge today.
Speaker 4 (16:10):
Maxie definitely looks ready, Maxy, don't bury your leash in
the sand.
Speaker 2 (16:15):
All right, here's the first question, Bethany. Back in nineteen
fifty nine, there was a brave fifteen year old girl
surfing the super scary why Mia Bay in Hawaii. She
was the first woman to do it. What was her name?
Was it a Sally surfboard, B Linda Benson or C wavy.
Speaker 5 (16:41):
Windy Linda Benson. That's correct.
Speaker 2 (16:48):
Linda Benson also became the first woman to be on
the cover of a surf magazine. Go Linda, do you
know much about her?
Speaker 1 (16:57):
Actually, my surf history is not too good, but I'm
glad I got that one right.
Speaker 5 (17:02):
Awesome?
Speaker 2 (17:03):
Okay, next question, Which of the following are types of
waves surfers ride? A point breaks, b reef breaks or
C beach breaks, all of the above.
Speaker 1 (17:22):
I literally I surf all of those all the time.
So I love reef breakes because the reefrekes are more predictable,
and so you can kind of make a map out there,
and you can know your map and position yourself really accurately,
so it's really a lot easier to catch the waves.
Speaker 4 (17:43):
Emily Maxie wants me to ask the last question.
Speaker 5 (17:46):
Okay, go ahead, Louise.
Speaker 4 (17:48):
All right, here I go. There was a rescue dog
named Abby Girl, and she became the dog that surfed
the longest wave ever in twenty eleven. What kind of
dog was she was? She A an Australian kelpie, B
a German Shepherd, or C a labrador.
Speaker 1 (18:08):
Ooh, I'm gonna go with see a labrador.
Speaker 4 (18:13):
It was actually a an Australian kelpie. Oh have you heard
about Abby Girl before? No?
Speaker 1 (18:20):
I haven't, but I have seen a lot of surfing dogs.
But I love like seeing surfing animals. There's even a
surfing pig out here in Hawaii I have seen over
the years.
Speaker 4 (18:30):
Oh. Now I want to go to Hawaii just to
surf with a surfing pig. Emily.
Speaker 2 (18:35):
That'll be so much fun. And I hope you had
fun with our game show, Bethany. Great job with all
those questions.
Speaker 4 (18:43):
Yeah, thanks for playing with us today, Bethany. See ya.
Speaker 1 (18:46):
Yeah, of course, my pleasure.
Speaker 2 (18:49):
Now I think Maxie is ready to hit the water.
Speaker 4 (18:53):
All right, MAXI, I got the surfboard ready. You want
to ride some waves? I'll go first.
Speaker 2 (19:00):
Chout, Louise. Maxie looks more ready than you are.
Speaker 4 (19:03):
I've got this. You're are good?
Speaker 2 (19:07):
Oh Louise, are you okay?
Speaker 5 (19:10):
That we've came out of nowhere?
Speaker 2 (19:11):
Emily, Now it's Maxie's turn.
Speaker 5 (19:16):
Looks like Maxi's a water dog.
Speaker 4 (19:19):
Oh good night, never gives up. I'm gonna be a
surf master. Just watch.
Speaker 2 (19:26):
Oh good job, Maxie.
Speaker 4 (19:28):
I have to stay on this board for more than
two seconds.
Speaker 2 (19:31):
Don't worry, Louise, We've got plenty of time. Thanks for
tagging along on this episode of Growing up all about surfers.
Remember little listener, dream big, and always stay curious. Louise,
Are you ready for more adventure?
Speaker 4 (19:51):
Wait? There's more?
Speaker 2 (19:53):
Yeah, there is loads more to explore on the world's
number one kids learning app, Lingo Kids. It has ton
to videos, games and podcasts just like this one, and
every single one is fun and educational. Download the Lingo
Kids app today for free.
Speaker 5 (20:13):
Se
You know, I was put in the ocean before I
could walk. I do vividly remember like one of my
surf contests when I was like five years old, I
think it was, and just remember like the water being
so blue and pretty. Once I got older, I got
started surfing more serious waves. So I started going up
(00:25):
to the deep water waves where you can't stand on
the bottom, and you know there are bigger fishes out there.
I am known as a professional surfer. I lost my
arm when I was thirteen years old, and I continued
surfing after that, and so I'm like one of those
rare humans that surfs with one arm, and I just
(00:46):
love what I get to do. You know, when life
gives you lemons, make lemonade. So that's kind of me
in a nutshell.
Speaker 2 (00:53):
You're listening to Bethany Hamilton, an amazing pro surfer who
has won tons of compet titians all over the world.
She's the star of very inspirational movies like Soul Surfer
and Bethany Hamilton Unstoppable, and today she's chatting with us
on Growing Up. Welcome to Growing Up, the Lingo Kids
(01:19):
podcast that encourages kids to dream big and discover who
they want to be.
Speaker 3 (01:47):
We're on the coasts of Peru, a country in South America,
right in front of the Pacific Ocean, and here waves
can get big, very very big.
Speaker 4 (01:58):
Look at dad, Maxie. Those ways are kind of scary,
aren't they. No worries they won't reach us. It's just
a movie. Here, have some popcorn, but don't tell mom
about it, Okay, good boy.
Speaker 3 (02:12):
Just off the coasts of Peru, some fishermen go out
to catch fish, but they don't do it alone. They
ride on special boats called kabahitos, which means little horses.
Speaker 4 (02:23):
Ah cool name. I bet it's because they're riding the
boats like if there were horses. Get it, Maxi.
Speaker 3 (02:32):
And this right here is one of the oldest kinds
of surfing in the whole white world.
Speaker 4 (02:37):
Surfing, No way, surfing is like skateboarding, but in the water, Maxi.
I's not only people in Hawaii surfed. You know, Hawaii
is an island and they have so many waves over there.
I love that at school.
Speaker 3 (02:53):
Oh yes, far far away in the Pacific Ocean on
the island of Hawaii. Surfing has also been popped for
centuries only. Instead of kabaitos, the ancient people of Hawaii
used to make surfboards.
Speaker 4 (03:07):
Look, MAXI the surfboard is that wooden table that man
standing on. Yeah, I'd paint my surf for Neon Green two.
Speaker 3 (03:15):
For ancient Hawaiians, surfing wasn't just something they did for fun.
It was how they felt close to the ocean, which
was sacred for their culture.
Speaker 4 (03:24):
So cool.
Speaker 3 (03:26):
Today, surfing is popular in many countries around the world.
Some people even allow their dogs to surf, and let
me say they do it pretty well.
Speaker 4 (03:36):
You're right, Maxie, you've never been to the beach before.
You'll have so much fun. I love building sand castles,
splashing in the water and swimming. Oh this time we
can try surfing.
Speaker 3 (03:49):
But remember, if you want to try surfing yourself, first
seek help from a grown up coach or a pro surfer. Gotcha,
Now go catch some waves.
Speaker 4 (03:59):
Okay day is officially on.
Speaker 5 (04:03):
Hi Louise.
Speaker 2 (04:06):
Enjoying the Go Forward movie theater.
Speaker 4 (04:08):
Yes, Emily, quick question, do you know anything about surfing? Mmm?
Speaker 2 (04:14):
I know it's super fun and I know that waves
can be very challenging to ride too.
Speaker 4 (04:20):
Yeah, I just watched this movie about the history of surfing.
Now I want to go to the beach. So Maxie
and I can surf. Problem is, well, we've never surfed before.
Can you help us out please?
Speaker 2 (04:33):
Well, lucky for you, I know a real surfing expert.
Speaker 4 (04:37):
You mean, like someone who has an actual surfboard, more.
Speaker 2 (04:41):
Like someone who's inspired millions with her surfing. Her name
is Bethany Hamilton. She has won tons of surfing competitions
and she's been surfing since she was a little kid,
kid like me. That's right. Why don't we go meet her?
Speaker 4 (05:00):
Of course I want to meet a super duper surfer
rock star. Okay, Massey, this is big. We're talking actual
surf advice from an actual surfing person. Of course, I'll
ask Bethany about surfing dogs too.
Speaker 2 (05:15):
Let's go then, welcome to our very own talking game show. Today,
we are speaking to the one and only Bethany Hamilton.
Bethany is a lifelong pro surfer and she's also behind
Beautifully Flawed Foundation, and together they help people who lost
(05:37):
arms or legs live happier lives.
Speaker 4 (05:40):
Hi, Bethany, Aloha, Bethany Aloha.
Speaker 1 (05:43):
I'm Bethany Hamilton, Derek's I am known as a professional surfer.
I lost my arm when I was thirteen years old.
And I continued surfing after that, and so I'm like
one of those rare humans that surfs with one arm
and I just love what I get to do.
Speaker 2 (06:00):
You are a rare human being indeed, who started surfing
when you were a baby, right.
Speaker 1 (06:05):
I was born and raised in Kauai, Hawaii, and I
still live there, So I pretty much grew up on
the beach as my playground, the ocean as my playground.
Both my mom and dad surfed, and same with my
older brothers too, so we were just a surfing family.
Speaker 3 (06:20):
You know.
Speaker 1 (06:21):
I was put in the ocean before I could walk,
and by the time I was like eight or nine,
that's when I really like started catching my own waves
and gaining more confidence in the ocean and just having
a lot of fun out there.
Speaker 5 (06:32):
What a fun childhood.
Speaker 4 (06:34):
Yeah, do you remember the first wave you ever served? Bitsany?
Speaker 1 (06:38):
I do vividly remember like one of my surf contests
when I was like five years old, I think it was,
and just remember like the water being so blue and pretty,
and there's these funny moves you can do on a surfboard,
like they call it a dying cockroach.
Speaker 4 (06:56):
Dying cockroach, Maxie, please don't eat one, please.
Speaker 2 (07:01):
I wouldn't recommend it either anyway. What's the dying cockroach move?
Speaker 1 (07:06):
Like, Bethany, So you lay down on the surfboard on
your back, and then you put your legs in the
arm and like kick them up and down and look
like a little cockroach on your back. And then another
thing you could do is like you're on the board
and you do a spinner, so you spin in a
circle and then you land back on your feet.
Speaker 4 (07:24):
They sound so much fun. I want to try them. Wait,
but Bethany, the ocean is so full of sea animals
and see things, and it's just so much sea. Weren't
you scared of it as a kid.
Speaker 1 (07:37):
When I was little, I was surfing in really shallow water,
so if I fell off my surfboard, I could stand
right up. It wasn't like I was going out into
the deep blue, and I wasn't worried about sharks or
fishes or anything like that because the environment that my
parents brought me to is super inviting. Once I got older,
(07:57):
I got started surfing more serious way, So I started
going out to the deep water waves where you can't
stand on the bottom, and you know there are bigger
fishes out there.
Speaker 2 (08:08):
And around that time is when you had your accident.
Speaker 1 (08:12):
Right, Every surfer thinks about sharks at one point or another,
but you never think it's gonna actually happen to you.
But I'm one of those rare humans that it happened
to you.
Speaker 4 (08:23):
You're a super strong surfer. Like, how did you even
keep surfing after the shark attack?
Speaker 3 (08:29):
You know?
Speaker 1 (08:29):
And when life gives you lemons, make lemonade. So that's
kind of me in a nutshell.
Speaker 4 (08:35):
Oh lemons, aren't they sour?
Speaker 2 (08:38):
Oh yeah, Louise, lemons can be sour. But what Bethany
means is that when tricky stuff happens, it's like getting
sour lemons, right, But if you squeeze lemons and then
add a bit of sugar, you get a delicious drink
like lemonade. The same thing is in life, when life
(08:59):
gets tricky, you can get something good out of a
bad situation.
Speaker 4 (09:03):
Oh, I get it. I'll remember it. When life gives
you lemons, make lemonade. There you go.
Speaker 2 (09:11):
That's such a valuable lesson, don't you think. Yeah, And
of course you got back to surfing even after this
horrific accident. How was it to go back in the ocean.
Speaker 1 (09:23):
Oh my goodness. Well, honestly, the first session I had
after I lost my arm was probably one of the
most memorable days I've ever had in the ocean. You know.
I had a lot of fear, thinking like I might
not be able to surf with one arm, and so
I went out there just willing to try, willing to
put myself out there, willing to do something really hard.
(09:47):
And the first few tries I fell and fumbled off
the board and it felt hard and scary.
Speaker 2 (09:53):
Wow, that sounds really hard. What or who helped you
believe you could do it.
Speaker 1 (10:01):
My dad was there and he's like, hey, now that
you have one arm, you got to do things a
little different. And so next wave, I put my hand
in the center of the board, whereas normally you put
both hands on the side rails, and it was just
a small little wave, and I popped up and rode
that wave all the way to the beach and just
had the best tears of joy and like a feeling
(10:22):
of accomplishment, like Wow, I just did it, Like I
just surfed with one arm. And then from then on
it was like there's no turning back, like let's go,
We're doing this. It just felt kind of healing and
like I didn't have to lose my greatest passion or love.
Speaker 2 (10:41):
You're a true example of courage and believing in yourself, Bethany.
And after all that hard work, you became an actual
pro surfer in competitions? What does it take to be
a pro surfer?
Speaker 1 (10:55):
So when I was younger, when I was about nine
years old, I joined my local team and they offered
a surf coach to coach us once a week, and
so we'd go and run heats, like pretend like we're
surfing in a competition with each other, and our coach
would judge us and give us feedback and give us
tips on how we can, you know, get better at
(11:17):
our sport. My parents would also film me out there,
film me surfing with a camcorder, and so I would
go home and watch the footage after. I'm so grateful
my parents would do that.
Speaker 4 (11:29):
Hey, my dad does that too. He records me all
the time.
Speaker 2 (11:33):
I bet he says things like you'll love this when
you're older.
Speaker 4 (11:37):
Yeah, just like that. Wait, how did you know, Emily.
Speaker 2 (11:41):
I'm a mom too. I do the same with my kids.
Speaker 4 (11:44):
Cool, So recording all the time to be a pro
surfer check what else do we need to do to
be pros Bethany.
Speaker 1 (11:51):
There's little details like figuring out your surfboards.
Speaker 4 (11:56):
Really, why are surfboards so important?
Speaker 1 (12:00):
Some surfboards work better than other surfboards. So sometimes I
would only ride a surfboard three times and then I
would either sell it or give it back to the shaper.
And then even the type of fins you put on
your surfboard, so that's on the bottom of the board,
and that's what helps you turn the surfboard. And there's different
types of fins you can use.
Speaker 4 (12:18):
Okay, No, dude, a cool night like me has to
ride a nice surfboard.
Speaker 1 (12:23):
Yeah, sometimes I would color on them, or I'd let
my friends who are really good artists color them. I've
even let my children now that I'm older and have children,
and it's always sad because at some point or another
they get old and kind of die or the waves
break them, and you're like, no, don't die on me surfboard,
(12:45):
and so yeah, you definitely have to take good care
of them.
Speaker 2 (12:48):
I can't imagine how many waves you've ridden with your surfboards, Bethany.
Speaker 4 (12:53):
Yeah, do you dream of riding like the super duper
perfect wave. Bethany.
Speaker 1 (12:59):
Well, there's there's one wave and this will probably surprise
a lot of you that it's in Namibia, Africa. There's
an incredible wave there that I've been dreaming of surfing
for like ten years. But it's such a far journey,
and the wave is also very rare, like, it doesn't
always work, it's not always breaking, it's not always good,
(13:20):
and when it's good, it's like a ten out of
a ten, and you can get what is called a
barrel where the wave breaks over top of your head
but you stay inside of the wave and it's like
you're in a little tunnel cave and it's the coolest
feeling ever. There's this barrel that you can have for
like twenty seconds.
Speaker 2 (13:40):
Oh I bet those twenty seconds feel like forever.
Speaker 1 (13:44):
It does. It truly does feel like an eternity, Bethany.
Speaker 2 (13:48):
Do you have any tips to learn how to surf
for people who don't live near the ocean.
Speaker 1 (13:54):
The first big challenge you have in the ocean is
just being able to catch the waves. It looks so easy,
but it's actually really hard, and it's kind of like
learning to read. First you learn your letters and then
you learn little words, and then you learn big words,
and then you read big books. So if you don't
live near the ocean, first learning how to swim super strong,
(14:15):
like kind of try to be an Olympic swimmer, so
to say, like swim one hundred laps or something like that.
Maybe fifty will be sufficient.
Speaker 4 (14:24):
Okay, swimming one million laps to become a pro surfer.
Speaker 3 (14:28):
Check.
Speaker 1 (14:28):
Another tip I would say is if you can learn
how to skateboard, so a lot of skateboarders will get
really good at surfing, and so everybody can access skateboarding.
You can buy a skateboard and learn how. I recommend
wearing the pads because when you fall in the ocean
it doesn't hurt so bad, but when you fall on
cement there can hurt really bad.
Speaker 4 (14:49):
Noted wearing pads when skateboarding so it doesn't hurt. Check.
Speaker 2 (14:55):
You got a good list of tips there, Louise Bethany,
thank you for this wonderful and inspiring chat. Louise, what
did you learn from today's interview?
Speaker 4 (15:06):
Wow, Emily, I can't believe anyone in the world can serf.
If you want to be super good at surfing, you
have to practice swimming a lot. You also have to
have a good surfboard for you. And if you're far
from the ocean, you can try skating to practice. Oh
and the biggest best ways don't come all the time,
but if you keep trying and practicing, you'll catch the
(15:27):
most awesome wave ever.
Speaker 5 (15:29):
That's on point, Louise.
Speaker 4 (15:31):
Maxie, we can go to the beach right after our
game show.
Speaker 2 (15:33):
Okay, I think we can actually play it on the beach, Louise, really,
where are we going? We're going to the beach. Bethany,
you want to join us?
Speaker 1 (15:45):
Cool, that's my favorite place in the world. Let's do it.
Speaker 4 (15:48):
Let's go, Maxie. We have some waves to catch, all right.
Speaker 2 (15:57):
Everyone, welcome to our very special well surf Trivia.
Speaker 5 (16:01):
At the beach.
Speaker 2 (16:03):
We've got the legendary Bethany Hamilton with us and we're
testing her surfing knowledge today.
Speaker 4 (16:10):
Maxie definitely looks ready, Maxy, don't bury your leash in
the sand.
Speaker 2 (16:15):
All right, here's the first question, Bethany. Back in nineteen
fifty nine, there was a brave fifteen year old girl
surfing the super scary why Mia Bay in Hawaii. She
was the first woman to do it. What was her name?
Was it a Sally surfboard, B Linda Benson or C wavy.
Speaker 5 (16:41):
Windy Linda Benson. That's correct.
Speaker 2 (16:48):
Linda Benson also became the first woman to be on
the cover of a surf magazine. Go Linda, do you
know much about her?
Speaker 1 (16:57):
Actually, my surf history is not too good, but I'm
glad I got that one right.
Speaker 5 (17:02):
Awesome?
Speaker 2 (17:03):
Okay, next question, Which of the following are types of
waves surfers ride? A point breaks, b reef breaks or
C beach breaks, all of the above.
Speaker 1 (17:22):
I literally I surf all of those all the time.
So I love reef breakes because the reefrekes are more predictable,
and so you can kind of make a map out there,
and you can know your map and position yourself really accurately,
so it's really a lot easier to catch the waves.
Speaker 4 (17:43):
Emily Maxie wants me to ask the last question.
Speaker 5 (17:46):
Okay, go ahead, Louise.
Speaker 4 (17:48):
All right, here I go. There was a rescue dog
named Abby Girl, and she became the dog that surfed
the longest wave ever in twenty eleven. What kind of
dog was she was? She A an Australian kelpie, B
a German Shepherd, or C a labrador.
Speaker 1 (18:08):
Ooh, I'm gonna go with see a labrador.
Speaker 4 (18:13):
It was actually a an Australian kelpie. Oh have you heard
about Abby Girl before? No?
Speaker 1 (18:20):
I haven't, but I have seen a lot of surfing dogs.
But I love like seeing surfing animals. There's even a
surfing pig out here in Hawaii I have seen over
the years.
Speaker 4 (18:30):
Oh. Now I want to go to Hawaii just to
surf with a surfing pig. Emily.
Speaker 2 (18:35):
That'll be so much fun. And I hope you had
fun with our game show, Bethany. Great job with all
those questions.
Speaker 4 (18:43):
Yeah, thanks for playing with us today, Bethany. See ya.
Speaker 1 (18:46):
Yeah, of course, my pleasure.
Speaker 2 (18:49):
Now I think Maxie is ready to hit the water.
Speaker 4 (18:53):
All right, MAXI, I got the surfboard ready. You want
to ride some waves? I'll go first.
Speaker 2 (19:00):
Chout, Louise. Maxie looks more ready than you are.
Speaker 4 (19:03):
I've got this. You're are good?
Speaker 2 (19:07):
Oh Louise, are you okay?
Speaker 5 (19:10):
That we've came out of nowhere?
Speaker 2 (19:11):
Emily, Now it's Maxie's turn.
Speaker 5 (19:16):
Looks like Maxi's a water dog.
Speaker 4 (19:19):
Oh good night, never gives up. I'm gonna be a
surf master. Just watch.
Speaker 2 (19:26):
Oh good job, Maxie.
Speaker 4 (19:28):
I have to stay on this board for more than
two seconds.
Speaker 2 (19:31):
Don't worry, Louise, We've got plenty of time. Thanks for
tagging along on this episode of Growing up all about surfers.
Remember little listener, dream big, and always stay curious. Louise,
Are you ready for more adventure?
Speaker 4 (19:51):
Wait? There's more?
Speaker 2 (19:53):
Yeah, there is loads more to explore on the world's
number one kids learning app, Lingo Kids. It has ton
to videos, games and podcasts just like this one, and
every single one is fun and educational. Download the Lingo
Kids app today for free.
Speaker 5 (20:13):
Se
Host
Emily Calandrelli
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