Haleiwa, Hawaii ? Bethany Hamilton, the teen surfer who lost her arm in a shark attack two years ago, said she’s finally getting attention for catching waves.

“A lot of people don’t really think I can surf, but I like to show them what I can do,” Hamilton, 15, said after braving the pounding surf. “It definitely makes me known as a surfer.”

She lost her qualifying heat in the Roxy Pro women’s surfing competition Friday, behind Honolulu’s Carissa Moore, but ahead of two other experienced surfers.

Hamilton was happy with her performance as she glided through 12-foot waves, scoring 12.93 out of a possible 20 points, just short of Moore’s 14 points.

She has been surfing competitively since she was 11. In 2003, she lost her left arm in a shark attack off Kauai, Hawaii.