COURAGEOUS Hawaiian surfer Bethany Hamilton was less than one point short of becoming a world champion yesterday after losing to French surfer Pauline Ado at the Billabong World Junior Championships at North Narrabeen.

Without taking the spotlight away from Ado, it was Hamilton the crowd was cheering as the 18-year-old continued to show endless determination by taking on the world’s best with only one arm.

In 2003 Hamilton was surfing with her friends at Kauai on Hawaii’s North Shore when a 5m tiger shark attacked her, ripping off her left arm just below the shoulder.

Amazingly, she was back in the water in just three weeks, riding a special longer and thicker board that was easier for her to paddle.

At North Narrabeen yesterday Hamilton matched it wave for wave with Ado and had the chance to win the event on her last ride with less than one minute left.

The spectators leapt to their feet as Hamilton took off on what was one of the best waves of the heat, but after a series of turns that looked set to seal the match she came unstuck and lost the final by 0.96 of a point.

And even Ado thought it was game over as she heard the crowd cheering the Hawaiian on.

“I didn’t watch Bethany on her last wave but I could hear the crowd and commentators in the background,” Ado said.

“I thought she had won, but luckily for me it wasn’t to be.

“This is a dream come true. I can’t believe that I won. When I woke up this morning I never imagined this would happen.

“I have so much confidence now going into 2009. I really want to do well in the WQS and hopefully qualify for the ASP World Tour, but for now I’m just stoked to be the world champion.

Being the fighter she is, Hamilton took the loss in her stride and said she was happy with her effort.

“To make the final is really good for me, I haven’t had a good result for a while so hopefully this will give me some confidence for the rest of the year,” she said.

“I think nerves got the better of me in the final.

“I’m kind of bummed about that last wave, but I guess that’s surfing.”

Hamilton had earlier put paid to Australia’s chance of winning a fourth consecutive world crown in the women’s division by eliminating local favourite Laura Enever in the quarter-finals.

The men’s division should be wrapped up today and Australia’s hopes are pinned on Julian Wilson, Lincoln Taylor, Jayke Sharp and Stuart Kennedy to regain a world crown that hasn’t been on Australian shores since current world No. 4 Joel Parkinson won it as a junior in 2001.

One of Australia’s main hopes, Owen Wright from Culburra, yesterday bowed out of title contention when he was eliminated by French surfer Marc Lacomare.

(Source: The Daily Telegraph)