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BEN MacKINNON
 
 
 
Age 19 years.
A.K.A Zoid & Neb.
Years bodyboarding 5 years.
Homebreak Morgan St, Wanganui.
  • 4 Best contest results
    		•
  • 2nd Round of Pipe, Hawaii 1999.
  • 1998 and 1999 Men Open Winner 1999 Manta New Zealand Bodyboarding Championships, Piha Auckland. 
  • 3rd Place Bodyboard Division Surfing New Zealand Nationals 1998, Kaitaia. 
  • 7th Place Pre-Trials 1999 Pipeline World Bodyboarding Championships, Hawaii (GOB Rated world tour event). 
  • 3rd Round, Sintra Pro, Portugal, 1999 (GOB Rated world tour event) 

    •  
    Sponsors Wave Rebel Bodyboards, Viper Fins, Gyroll Leashes, Vescovato Clothing, Bodyline Wetsuits and Sticky Bumps Wax. 
    Favourite bodyboarding style 90% prone and 10% dk.
    Favourite bodyboarders Hubb, Stewart, Tamega, Ryan Hardy.
    Favourite food Home made Burittos.
    Favourite woman Liz Hurly, Mandi Smith ( Ben's girlfriend).
    Favourite music Blink 182, Pearl Jam, Portishead, Smashing Pumpkins.
    First move Cuttie.
    Favourite move Projected invert and air forwards.
     
    ABOUT BEN
      
    Ben is one of the rider leading the future of NZ bodyboarding. He possesses the drive, discipline, talent and natural ability to make it as a pro bodyboarder. He is very friendly, approachable and easy to get along with, if you get in a conversation with him about bodyboarding he can talk for hours. 

    Aside from Ben’s impressive list of contest results in both New Zealand and overseas he has committed himself to being New Zealand's first international professional Bodyboarder. 
     

    Ben in a solid pit.
     
     
      Interview questions 
      
    Ed) You have just returned from your second trip to Hawaii, how did it go? 
    Ben) The waves were not as consistent as last year. Lots of onshore and rain, bad sell directions. I learnt more this year, better waves caught. New Years Eve 1999 pumped, 12ft perfect swell. I got to the second round of the Pipe contest. it was so sick with only three other guys out. I made a lot more friends. 

    Ed) How different was this trip to your first trip? 
    Ben) It was more fun! I wasn't as scared as being in a different country alone. I already knew a lot of people. Not as lonely. 

    Ed) What did you enjoy most about Hawaii? 
    Ben) Learning how to surf their waves properly. It's a whole different type of bodyboarding, so much goes into making the drops and turns. It's harder than it looks. 

    Benny tweaks a nice invert
     

    Ed) What have you learnt from your trips? 
    Ben) Not to be so scared, it's only waves and water, but sometimes that doesn't matter and you just get smashed! To get better you just have to go! 

    Ed) How much a higher level are the G.O.B comps than the comps in NZ? 
    Ben) In small waves just more spins but when it's bigger they are just busting like it's not that size. The size makes no difference to them. 

    Ed) Do you feel that New Zealander's have the potential to be able to compete with the pro's? 
    Ben) Definitely! We just need the opportunities, your only as good as the opportunities you get. You have to try to create these for yourself at the moment, but it needs to change for NZ riders to progress. 
     

    Ben bottom turns at Manu Bay, Raglan.
     
    Ed) What sort of training did you do for Hawaii? 
    Ben) 
    • Running three times a week for 30 minutes.
    • 30 minutes under water swimming once a week.
    • Bike riding for 45 minutes once a week.
    • Breath holding five times a day for as long as possible.
    • Strectching/strengthing 45 minutes a day.
    • Big wave visualisation 20 minutes a day. 
    Ed) What advice would you give to someone who wanted to be a better contest surfer? 
    Ben) Enter as many contests as possible. Definitely as many as possible. A couple of times per week work on doing as many moves as possible. In a heat focus on getting the largest waves ( I don't do this sometimes).  

    Ed) Anything else you would like to add? 
    Ben) Surf as much as you can, working on various things each week. Get video footage of yourself, it really helps defining problems in your surfing. Every surf offers the ability for something to be accomplished. Stick with it and you will get better. Set yourself goals in your surfing and surf as many different waves as possible, it's no use just surfing one kind of wave. Surf with people better than you even if it bums you out, you will only get better.
     
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