Q & A with Pro Bodyboarder: Ben Player
Whether your into bodyboarding or not, you would have heard the name Ben Player. The 3 time world champ, Pipeline winner and star of the iconic bodyboarding film, Far North, Ben Player is a legend in the bodyboarding community.
At 46 years old and now a husband, father and business owner, Ben’s lifestyle is a little different these days. But, something that has not changed is his love for bodyboarding and his advocacy for the sport.
I had the pleasure of spending some time with Ben when he visited the south west coast of Victoria in early 2025 and I was pleasantly surprised at what an awesome human he was. Humble, a great story teller, outstanding bodyboarding coach and generous with his time. I’m sure anyone who has met or surfed with Ben would agree.
He is now the owner of Action Distribution, a company that sources and distributes multiple bodyboard brands including boards, fins and soft tops around Australia.
In our Q and A, Ben talks about life on the pro tour, bodyboarding’s hey days and his transition from pro bodyboarder to business man. We touch on how, as a whole we can bring bodyboarding back to the forefront and what the future holds for one of Australia’s most iconic bodyboarders.
Ben on a bomb at Chopes, Image: Mickey Smith
Q. As a professional bodyboarder, give us some insight into what the tour was like in the early 2000s under the International Bodyboarding Association (IBA)?
A. The IBA tour was absolutely incredible, but all consuming. When the IBA started off the back of the failed Super Tour, it was good, but then when the tour became private it became unbelievable. We had around 8 events per year, all with enough prize money to allow you to profit with a good result. The media output was as good as any $5m WSL event, which drew a huge amount of spectators.
All of the best bodyboarders were whole-heartedly participating. There was no fall-back plan, or other options. The tour was it, and if you wanted to have any credibility as a bodyboarder, you had to do well. It was incredible for the sport and for the progress of performance bodyboarding. I know it sounds like paradise, the way I describe it, but it was a gruelling schedule with very little time to prioritise anything else. For me, I dedicated 100% of my life to trying to achieve results on tour and avoided any distractions which was fairly isolating and lonely at times.
My saviour was a group of like minded Aussies that I would travel with, guys like Winny, Hardy, Dallas, Jake Stone, Mitch Rawlins, Brad Hughes etc. We had a good crew that managed to leave competition in the water, and be the best of mates as soon as we returned to the beach. I think many of us in that group excelled because of the energy we could draw from one another and we were really lucky to share it.
Ben at Pipeline, Hawaii
Q. You were world champion 3 times in 2005, 2007 and 2013. Tell us about the most memorable competitive moments during this time (good or bad).
A. The most memorable was winning Pipe twice, Shark Island twice and my 2 podium world title wins. My least memorable was winning my third world title off the back of the failed IBA Pty Ltd tour. That was horrible and a hugely pivotal point in my professional career. I went from dedicating my whole life to tour, to avoiding competitions almost overnight and seeking new challenges. That was very hard to do but I was able to focus on other goals like making Far North (film) which I am very proud of.
Far North Film promotional Image
Q. During your time as a pro bodyboarder (early 2000s) the sport was going through one of its most exciting and abundant phases. How does that compare to the sport of bodyboarding in 2025?
A. It is hard for me to say as I’m not on tour anymore, but it looks more complex these days with more expectations for riders. Long gone are the days of large sponsorship contracts and solely pursing results on tour; these days competetors have to hustle for money, have a Youtube identity and exploit their lives through social media. It appears to be highly fragmented and complex these days.
Q. What in your opinion, contributed to the decline in popularity of bodyboarding in the mid 2000s?
A. In my opinion, the IBA (tour) going bankrupt was the reason why. I noticed locally we went from having 10-15 boogers out at my local beach per day to having 1-4. The changes happened almost instantly. I think the failure of the tour sent shock-waves through the bodyboarding community and that eroded all confidence in our sport.
Q. How does the sport of bodyboarding move into the future in a sustainable way?
A. Adapting and re-building from the ground up with people like you (West Coast Bodyboard club/The Slab Lab). Every one of us that loves to bodyboard could make a difference if we were all willing to try.
Ben after a coaching session with crew from West Coast Bodyboard Club (WCBC)
Q. You transitioned from the pro tour into the corporate world of bodyboarding. Tell us about your journey from athlete to business man.
A. That was very, very hard for me, and very quick. On the back of finishing Far North (film), I was given 2 weeks notice that my remaining 3 year contract with the distributor of NMD (bodyboards) would be terminated. The worst part was, it was the best contract I had ever signed and gave me a lot of runway to do amazing things. All that came to stop very abruptly. Luckily Mez (shaper, Nick Mesritz) is the amazing bloke he is and gave Winny (Dave Winchester) and I an opportunity to take over distribution from the people that terminated our initial agreements, and here we are.
It was a hard time for me though, thankfully it all worked out in the end.
Q. Do you have any new projects in the works, what's the scoop?
A. Not at all. I’m a committed dad these days. Never say never though. My children will be in school before I know it and who knows what might around the corner.
Ben with the Sea Tarts bodyboard group, Warrnambool, VIC. Image: Rodney Harris
Q. Favorite wave anywhere in the world?
A. Padang Padang at 4-6ft and no one out. I was lucky enough to get a session like that back in the day and I still re-play it in my head today. It was like a dream come true.
Q and A By: Kylie Palmer
Co owner of @the.slablab.store and editor-in- chief of SLAB MAGAZINE @slab.magazine
