BEN PROFFITT – THE FIRST TIME

There comes a time in every windsurfer’s life when you really know you’re hooked; it’s that first plane, first lie to your boss when it’s windy, first smile at the hint of a windy weekend – even if it’s bucketing down. Fellow addicts fear not, you are in good company as here at Windsurf we know the joys and the pain and are ready to hear confessions. So please pull up a pew and listen to one of the greatest windsurf sinners we know, the man with more than a few British titles to his name – multiple UK wave champion, the greatest gift of the gab on tour and maestro of the mic. – Ben Proffitt. Read on as JC breaks down the Rhosneigr ripper’s inner demons in the pound store psychology of ‘The first time….’

Words & Photos JOHN CARTER

(This feature originally appeared in the July 2015 issue of Windsurf Magazine. To read more features like this first, Print and Digital subscriptions are available. Prices include delivery globally for 10 x issues a year!)

First board you ever owned?
BP: Vinta twist, in a lovely Yellow, tipping the scales at around 20kg I reckon!

First time you nailed a forward loop?
BP: I think it was the year 2000, I was a late starter!

First board you ever loved?
BP: A Newaves 245 custom, bought second hand (it was Mr Newave son’s board), which had an extra mast track further back in it as it was for short asses! I was ahead of the times! Haha!

First time you got ripped off?
BP: I bought a Volkswagen mark 1 golf when I was about twenty.  It looked mint and I was super happy with it but the bloody thing just kept cutting out. I had to drive it with my hand on the handbrake because if I took my foot off the accelerator it would cut out. So I had to use the handbrake and clutch and keep revving it! It was a bloody nightmare but funny. I finally thought I’d fixed it and sold it to my sister; she blew the engine up two weeks later!

First time you had a hangover?
BP: To be honest I never used to get them but I do remember a racing event in Bridlington where I was dying after a big Saturday night! There was meant to be no wind so when I peered out the van on the Sunday morning to see 8 – 10 knots and the ‘go afloat’ flag was up I was crying inside. I remember a few of the boys not making it but I some how managed to make the start and race. I really wasn’t in a good way. I was throwing up round the top mark, down the reaches and over the finish. I really was bad. But the crazy thing was I actually won! Ha ha!

“ He was a hero then and still is today. His name is Farrell O’ Shea and I’m proud to have him as a sponsor ’’

First time you won a competition?
BP: I think I won a dance competition when I was like 6 years old at a holiday camp in France! I am not sure what happened to my moves since then.

First time you did the PWA commentary?
BP: I think it was Vietnam, Mui ne beach.

First time you messed up live on camera?
BP: It was probably Vietnam! It all came down to the last day so it was super exciting. I think a few swear words might have popped out. Sometimes I get a bit carried away on the mic. but windsurfing is my passion !

First time you went on a windsurfing road trip?
BP: Probably when I was nine years old.  Dad gave this famous windsurfing bloke and his mate a lift to West Kirby in our van. I tagged along in the back on a plastic garden chair. I was amazed as this famous bloke had just come back from Hawaii and had like 13 boards!  I just had my Vinta Twist. I was asking him loads of questions and trying to find out about what he did, how Hawaii was so I think he couldn’t wait to get on the water for some peace and quiet. When he did, he was the talk of the beach as he did a flat water loop! The funny thing is I still remember that day sitting in the back of the van with all those boards. He was a hero then and still is today. His name is Farrell O’ Shea and I’m proud to have him as a sponsor. Pretty funny how things that happen when you are young have such a big effect on your life!

First time you were in trouble with the law?
BP: Probably in Lowestoft when I was about 17-18. We were on our way back from a night out and decided to take the short cut. Problem was the short cut was over water so we had to borrow a ‘pedalo’. We had intentions on giving it back but we kind of over slept and the Police man was round to wake us up!  Oops!

First time you were in big trouble with your parents?
BP: There was this UKBSA end of year do where things got a bit out of hand. To cut a very long story short, I was around 18, I’d had a few drinks and as I was getting my prize I some how managed to fall off the stage! I leant against the curtain but there was no wall behind it so I just disappeared backwards! I was pretty embarrassed so didn’t want to come out from behind the curtain. It is hard to explain but all the walls had a curtain in front of them! So I found myself in this space between the wall and the curtain. I made my way round the building to the other side and realised everyone was looking for me, so when I turned up at the other side they all thought I was taking the piss.

Anyway we moved on from that and sat down for a three course dinner at the table. Then some guy started throwing food. I wasn’t into it so told him he should stop. To cut another long story short; he didn’t . So I picked up the trifle in front of me walked over to the table where he was and emptied it on his head and new suit. Then told him let’s take it outside. Before anything happened everyone rushed out and broke it up. Everyone was kind of pissed with me so I went for a walk and being a frustrated young man I punched a window. Problem being the window wasn’t very strong and it broke! Sometimes things just spiral out of control. My parents weren’t too happy as you can imagine but to be fair I can’t blame them.

First time you crashed on a windsurfer?
BP: I’m not sure about crash but the first time I nearly drowned was the first time I was on the sea. I think I was about ten years old and we were on holiday in Cornwall. I decided I was going to have a go on the sea at Marazion. So I was waiting to beach start at the waters edge and this little wave came through and broke on top of me. It wasn’t a big wave but it pinned me to the beach! I was trapped, there was no battens in the sail so it felt like someone had ‘cling wrapped’ me to it. I couldn’t move; and as soon as the wave had sucked back out and the pressure had gone, the next wave would land on top of me! I really thought I was going to die. I can still see all the little stones washing around me as I struggled to free myself. After about four waves and what seemed an eternity I managed to get myself free, coughing and spluttering and crying, I see my dad  laughing his head off! I wasn’t a happy fella as I don’t think he realised how bad it was. It took me years before I went back on the sea! Now I spend my life chasing wind and waves on every ocean of the world !

First time you did a massive jump?
BP: I was a bit of a late starter so it was probably when I started doing big stalled forwards in Cape Town. I’ve had some pretty massive jumps at Whitsands over the years and to be honest on its day Sunset can be pretty decent for rocket airs!

“ Now I spend my life chasing wind and waves on every ocean of the world ! ”

First time you rode a massive wave?
BP: Probably Elands Bay 2003/4, the beach break was mast high and out back was huge, well over mast, maybe even double; well that’s what I remember but I bet if I went back it wouldn’t feel as big now!

First time you were really angry?
BP: Really not sure about the first time but I remember this one time when I was about 17 and we had been at the Surfers Against Sewage Ball in Cornwall. I borrowed my dad’s car and there was a pretty crazy party in a field somewhere. I was sleeping in the back of the car on a board bag or something with the boot slightly open as my feet were in the way. Anyway I was passed out when I woke up to a bang. Then three seconds later another ‘bang’ and then the car was moving, half asleep I looked out the window to see another car reverse into my dad’s car again! So I jump out of bed just as the car is trying to drive off. Luckily the field was super muddy and they couldn’t get much traction. I was so angry as they were trying to drive off with out saying anything. There was no fighting as it was a girl driver and she was still drunk. But I said a few choice words before getting insurance details!

First time you had a real travel disaster?
BP: Not mine but a funny one I remember was checking in with the British youth team and some how Nick Dempsey managed to check in and then put his passport into his checked luggage! It was a total nightmare as he didn’t realise for a while and the bag was long gone!

First time you had a punch up?
BP: Benidorm, 1998, it was more a beat down! I was trying to help a mate out who was getting the sh!t kicked out of him. I took the bloke down (Big Bouncer ) but the glory didn’t last long as about five dudes kicked the hell out of me!
It’s a long story but most people who know me have heard it. My nose hasn’t been the same since!

First time you broke a bone?
BP: Err..see above! Touch wood the only bone I’ve broke has been my nose but I’ve done it enough times to make up for the ones I haven’t.

First time you were conned?
BP: After the mistral Europeans one year; me and my mate (Dom Tidey) were told we should go to Mikonos as there would be loads of women there. To cut a long story short again; it turned out to be the gay capital of Europe!  After just one night we raced back to the ferry and waited for it to leave. The problem was they didn’t know when it was going to leave as the weather was too rough, 12hrs later we finally managed to escape!

First time you gambled?
BP: Grand National, 1990, Mr Frisk, 18 /1, 50p each way, £9.50!!! Booooooooom! Ha ha and that’s when it started!

First time you won some money?
BP: See above

“ Sometimes I get a bit carried away on the mic. but windsurfing is my passion ! ”

First time you hit a massive lip and landed in the flats?
BP: I remember a scary aerial in Elands on the beach break, it must have been 2003/4 I rode the point all the way in and as it hit the beach it just jacked up and I was caught in no man’s land. If I had tried to pull out it would have just eaten me from the side so I had to hit it. I caught it so well it just launched me towards the beach.  I landed so far out in front and so flat I thought both my legs had snapped… and as I landed the board kind of jumped back out of the water and kicked me off. I then got mauled by the wave and broke my mast into 3 pieces and destroyed my sail! Bugger!

First time you nailed a double loop?
BP: Cape Town 2005. I was trying to persuade Laure Treboux to go for forwards, so I told her if I go for a double you have to try a single. She agreed, so first run nicely powered on my 4.5 I go off this big bit of swell out the back, spin round twice and landed perfect! I couldn’t believe it, it was so easy! Of course I came straight in and lo and behold, no one saw anything! Typical! I nailed a few more that day but none as good as the first.

First time you went so high you were shit scared?
BP:  I remember doing this jump at Bala when I was like 11-12, I was on a 2.8 and I just launched into orbit; well that’s what it felt like! I had visions of me looking like that guy ‘Dale’ from the Hood River who goes massive. In reality it was probably about 3 ft!

First time you bought a record?
BP: Happy Mondays, ‘Halleluiah’, it was 1989 and I was 11 years old.

First time you bought an album:
BP: Guns and Roses, ‘Appetite for destruction’. Listening to it in the car on the way home didn’t go down well with Mum when ‘It’s so easy’ came on! Great album though, I still love it!

First time you were romantic?
BP: I am still working on that one!

First time you owned a car?
BP: I was 16 years old; it was a Champagne (not beige or brown!) 950cc ford Fiesta! Plus I saved up for some Alloys. Yep I was living the dream! I lived in the sticks so I worked part time taking moulds off concrete pigs (ha ha, don’t even ask, I was making £4 an hour cash! Which was not bad back then) to save up to buy it!.

First time you owned a new car?
BP: Actually I’ve never owned a new car but I’ve just been given the New Ford Transit custom to use and I have to say it’s awesome! It has all the toys and is so comfortable to drive! I definitely could get used to it!

First time you were jealous?
BP: There was this bloke at Bala lake when I was nine way back in 1988 that used to do the most amazing planning carve gybes on his F2 sunset slalom!  The gybe was a big thing back then, I was so jealous!

First time you were stuck for words
Editor – Ben, never, until now ! – if you want to hear more from Ben, that’s never a problem, check him out on the PWA live stream, he really does a great job or catch him on www.facebook.com/k800ben

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