SOUL SURFER is the inspiring true story of teen surfer Bethany Hamilton, who lost her arm in a shark attack and courageously overcame all odds to become a champion again, through her sheer determination and unwavering faith.

The film features an all-star cast, including AnnaSophia Robb and Helen Hunt, with Carrie Underwood in her film debut, and Dennis Quaid.  In the wake of this life-changing event that took her arm and nearly her life, Bethany’s feisty determination and steadfast beliefs spur her toward an adventurous comeback that gives her the grit to turn her loss into a gift for others.

Bethany (Robb) was born to surf.  A natural talent who took to the waves at a young age, she was leading an idyllic, sun-drenched, surfer girl’s life on the Kauai Coast, competing in national competitions with her best friend Alana (Lorraine Nicholson), when everything changed in a heartbeat.  On Halloween morning, Bethany was on a typical ocean outing when a 14-foot tiger shark came out of nowhere and seemed to shatter all her dreams.

SOUL SURFER reveals the moving aftermath of this headline-making story, as Bethany fights to
recover and grapples with the future. Strengthened by the love of her parents, Tom (Quaid) and Cheri (Hunt), she refuses to give in or give up, and begins a bold return to the water.  Still, the questions keep hammering her:  Why did this happen?  Why did she have to lose everything? Will she ever feel the joy and power of riding the waves again?  And if she can’t be a surfer, then who is she? 

The devastating 2004 tsunami in the Pacific Ocean unexpectedly gives Bethany a new perspective.  Traveling to Phuket, Thailand with her youth-group leader Sarah Hill (Underwood), she witnesses life beyond her own shoreline and discovers her greater purpose—she can make a difference in the lives of others.  Filled with a new sense of hope and direction, she returns home with a renewed resolve to conquer her own limitations and set an encouraging example for people facing adversity.

At the National Championships, Bethany bravely faces off with her fiercest rival, Malia Birch (Sonya Balmores), and takes her astonishing one-armed surfing technique to the limit.  But as the horn blows, and the suspenseful competition kicks off, Bethany is no longer thinking about the challenges of her body.  Now, her surfing, her biggest dreams and her life have become about pushing her own physical limits to touch the souls of others.

 

Reviews:

"Some movies are worthy of an Oscar. After seeing this movie, I must ask, is Oscar worthy of SOUL SURFER?"--David Sams, Publisher, KeepTheFaith.com

"SOUL SURFER is the best faith-based film ever made, an uplifting, entertaining and wonderfully-acted account of surfer Bethany Hamilton's life." --Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel "

"One of my favorite movies of all time"--Ted Baehr, MovieGuide.org

"I loved this movie and loved watching it with my family! It's engaging and entertaining."--Craig Groeschel, Senior Pastor, LifeChurch.tv "

"One of few truly uplifting family films released by a major Hollywood studio in recent memory. The level of faith in God that Bethany and her family have is clearly portrayed in the film."--Dove Family Friendly review

In Bethany's Words

• My strength came from my relationship with Christ and from the love and encouragement of my family and friends.
• I believe in God. I don't mean that I believe in Him like a person might believe in, say, gravity or the sun coming up in the morning. Those are just facts that don't mean anything. I mean I REALLY believe in God.
• I don't pretend to have all the answers to why bad things happen to good people, but I do know that God knows all those answers, and sometimes He lets you know in this life...
• I don't know what other girls do before they go out in a heat, but for me the routine is pretty simple: I pray. I pray for safety for everyone and I pray for wisdom in my wave selection and ability to be at the right place at the right time.
• The paramedic whispered in my ear "God will never leave you or forsake you."
• God did have something bigger planned for me. What we all needed to do was trust... and believe.
• I have this thought every second of my life—Why me? Not negatively, like Why did this terrible thing happen to me? But more like "Why did God choose me and what does He have in mind for me?"
• When people ask me what my faith in Christ means to me, I usually answer in just one word—everything! This was true before and after the shark attack.
• I see that God is able to use my story to help others. Once a girl came up and told me that she had had cancer. When she learned my story it made her realize that she didn't need to give up.
• It's hard for me to describe the joy I felt after I stood up and rode wave in for the first time after the attack. I was incredibly thankful and happy inside. The tiny bit of doubt that would sometimes tell me you'll never surf again was gone in one wave.
• I think that if I can help other people find hope in God, then that is worth losing my arm for.
• My friend Sarah says that I get to be the voice of God. I usually roll my eyes when she says it, because if I were God, I would never have chosen me of all people to speak for him.

 

Quotes taken from Soul Surfer: A True Story of Faith, Family, and Fighting to Get Back on the Board by Bethany Hamilton
published 2004 by MTV Books and Pocket Books

KeepTheFaith executive producer, Joe Battaglia, at the SOUL SURFER New York premiere with Bethany Hamilton, AnnaSophia Robb, and Lorraine Nicholson. 

Meet Sarah Hill

 

After graduating high school, a tragic surfing accident changed Sarah Hill's life. Suffering a broken neck and back, Sarah clung to Christ and through this painful journey, God's plan and purpose for her life started to become clear.

After recovering from her accident, Sarah completed her Associate's Degree in theology from Calvary Chapel Bible College (CCBC). Trusting God, Sarah returned to surfing and became a missionary to the island of Kauai in June 2001. There, Sarah founded Kauai Child, a ministry geared toward the island's kids. Soon after arriving in Kauai, she began spending more of her time in ministry to junior and senior high students.

Sarah has helped create youth groups on the North Shore of Kauai and ministers to more than 150 kids a week. Because of her fun and loving approach to youth, she has one of the largest youth groups on Kauai. Sarah takes the time to truly listen and understand the full scope of each student's needs. Her ministry also includes helping establish Christian clubs in public schools, discipling kids, counseling students and their families, and of course, her ministry to kids on the water while surfing!

Grounded in her devotion and love for Christ for more than 17 years and in ministry for 12 years, Sarah's training allows her to recognize those in need and gives her the ability to reach out to them. After growing up in a tough and abusive home, through God's grace, she continues impacting lives for God's kingdom on Kauai ... and beyond.

In SOUL SURFER, Sarah is portrayed by Carrie Underwood.