28.5.12

BEN JOHN / ENGLISH VERSION

BEN JOHN / Searching for the BIG ones series


PROFILE:
-Ben John
-31 years old
-Avalon, Sydney, Australia
-Ferry Captain ( Boat)
-Waveski since 18
-website for Ben John video's www.vimeo.com/waveski

Biggest wave surfed:
-Surfed many different big waves with many around the 15 foot mark or 20 foot plus wave faces.

Where and when:
Big wave locations around home mainly.

Gear:
Use bigger fins on a pin or round tail board. Would like to develop a lot more in specifically made big wave waveski's. I think a heavier board can also be better due to the bounce you can get from chop at high speeds that are reached riding big waves.

Main thoughts about that feeling...
There is nothing better than testing yourself against the might of mother nature. Especially if you can escape a life killing wave!

Advices to big wave enthusiasts:
Physical preperation is the best way to handle big waves which will make you more mentally ready when you are faced in a dangerous position. When the surf is small instead of driving back home go for a run/swim or gym to prepare yourself for the next big swell to arrive. And always relax as much as you can during a big wipeout to save your oxygen.

Next challenge:
I had a trip booked to surf the massive swell that hit Cloudbreak (Fiji) last year that Kelly Slater famously missed the J-bay comp to surf . I had to cancel due to work reasons which was upsetting. So i feel i will surf massive Cloudbreak when i can next and anywhere else i feel i want to challenge myself.

Also Luis i will have a 3 minute section and interview on a huge surf film production that tours nationally on the big screen in April called "Immersion". Its a great moment for all Paddle sport enthusiast as it puts us all in the mainstream and the larger scale audience can see what we do! It is a huge moment for myself and the sport. I will hopefully send a link in a few months to my vimeo page .

All the best and thankyou again for your thought in choosing me for your website.

Thanks Ben! 
With your high surf level, it's always a pleasure to have you on kayaksurf.net ;)

VIDEO AND PHOTOS / CLICK:

3.5.12

STEFANO BELLOTTI / ENGLISH LIGHT VERSION

Kayaksurf IC Winner / Santa Cruz Paddle Festival 2012


Ola Stefano! Third time in Santa Cruz and already a victory. Did you ever thought in this achievement?
No I didn't think to reach this achievement.in fact,It was very exciting for me to win the 26th santa cruz paddle fest.

And about the classes... you won in IC. Is it your favourite class?
I prefer the HP performance or the waveski because these two boards allows a more radical surf, but in my opinion for Steamer Lane waves the best class is the IC. So in Santa Cruz my favorite class is IC.

How do you describe the event of this year?
It was wet :) but fortunately without tsunami! As every year the people of the organisation was fantastic and it was great to meet again my friends.

We saw that the waves were really big on the finals but one thing, is on the photos, the other is being there. Do you confirm?
when I win is because waves are big! :) I love big waves! :)

You surf now with a Proton and a Trident. Satisfyed with the new Mega machines?
with the Trident it was love at the fist sight. It adapts to my way of surfing. It is light,fast, frenetic and zippy. While,in california, I didn't really understand the Proton but in italy i surfed it different times and i like to surf it a lot!

What are your next projects?
In 2013 there will be the surf kayak world championship in Australia and the waveski world championship in Brazil. However my dream and goal is to find the sponsor to surf the true chi wave in Jaws, Hawaii, Teahupoo, Tahiti or Maverick, California.

And about Surfactivity Sports Association... how are things going?
things are going on very well! my goal is not to earnmoney but to create a group of people that can share the passion for the surf1

Final words...
I want to thanks all my sponsors:
surfactitivy,exo kayak,kayaksurf.net,onda,mauijim,gath,mega kayak and ks waveski because they trusted in me and in my capacities.

Thanks Stefano. Keep surfing!!

PHOTOS / CLICK: