Adam Dirks is not only Bethany Hamilton’s husband, but he has played a key role in the lives of many young people as a youth leader and teacher. His passion for God and love for others is infectious. Growing up in Kansas playing football, his heart was always drawn to work with kids. This inspired Adam to pursue a degree in elementary education at Tabor College, and during the summers, he worked at a sports camp for kids. Adam felt certain there was a greater calling in life and followed that call all the way to Kauai, where, in 2011, he helped establish a ministry focusing on running clubs and summer camps for high school students. Adam continues to spread God’s word and is now partnering with Bethany on encouraging youth and ultimately being the best parents they can be to their son, Tobias.
Bethany Hamilton is a source of inspiration to millions. In 2003, while surfing, she lost her left arm to a 14-foot tiger shark. With resilience and tenacity, Bethany returned to the water a month later, and within two years won her first national title. Her unbelievably positive attitude fascinated the world, resulting in an autobiography that was later adapted into the film Soul Surfer. Her courage and talent led to her induction into the Surfer’s Hall of Fame in 2017. Bethany and her husband, Adam Dirks, are also involved in charities such as Friends of Bethany, a foundation she and her family created to support amputees and youth. In addition, Bethany authored Body and Soul to encourage others toward confidence and fitness. Her new documentary Bethany Hamilton: Unstoppable brings her passions together, showcasing her world-class surfing and love for life as well as her message of female empowerment and never giving up.
