Riv on the Record – Ben Considine

WELCOME to Riv on the Record, a new weekly column connecting you with the unique and fascinating individuals shaping our community.

This series will offer an intimate, conversational look into the lives, passions, and expertise of local figures — from business owners and artists to community leaders and everyday heroes.

This week I had the great pleasure of being joined by local professional surfer Ben Considine at TNG Studios in Torquay. Spin it!

It was your third time competing at the Bells Beach Longboard Classic, how did you approach the event?

It was great as always being able to compete at Bells this year.

I feel like I was able to use the experience that I’ve had previously to help me with my training and preparation for this one, which felt really good.

Unfortunately, didn’t get the result I was after but I did feel like I was able to bring a level of professionalism and held my own in the heats, with some really tight scores, which just didn’t quite go my way especially in that first round.

It’s always super special to be able to compete and mix it with the top guys in the world, so really grateful for that and I feel like I have learnt a tonne from this year that I’m really keen to work on leading into the qualifying series for early next year.

What was it like surfing in front of your friends and family?

It’s always super special being able to compete at home and to have everyone’s support.

I was lucky enough to have my family friend’s fiancé all come down to cheer me on which was really cool, and there’s nothing like being able to share that moment with everyone

My strategy for this year was to just focus on myself and there’s a bunch I do to keep cool calm and collected out there, which I feel like I was really able to stick to this year and allowed me to perform pretty well and maximise the opportunities I had.

Surfing has always been a big part of your life, where did it all start for you?

My Dad, Lee, definitely got me into it.

Earliest memories are being five-years-old and we’d do our family trips up to Byron Bay and we’d surf the Pass and all the spots up there.

I started to get a bit more serious with it when I got to about nine-years-old and begun to surf every morning before school with Dad.

It kicked off there and I began competing as a little tacker when I was 11 or 12.

 

When was the moment you realised that you could make a career out of surfing?

It’s a tough one, but it was probably when I started to do well coming out of the junior age groups.

I won a couple of national titles — but you’re always not sure when you go to open that you’re up to the level… I did OK at that level and realised maybe it was something I could work through and progress with.

It’s been an interesting path. It [competing] has given me exposure to compete in some really high-level events, which have helped me to see where the level is.

What’s the experience like getting to surf against the world’s best?

It’s awesome! The longboarding community itself is something that is really strong.

When you go to these contests, everyone in the water is competing with game face on, but outside of that everyone is super friendly, having a laugh and enjoying it.

I love surfing and competing with Declan Wyton, he’s got an amazing competitive drive and it’s fun to bounce off each other in that sort of way.

I really admire Taylor Jensen, Kaniela Stewart from a competitive side of things, alongside everyone else on tour — they’re all really incredible.

If there was a homebreak you could have anywhere else in the world, where would it be?

The first one that comes to mind is La Saladita in Mexico, I’ve been there for the Mexi Log Fest a couple of times and it was just epic!

I really love Crescent Head and Noosa as well.

What’s good about where we live?

I think we are super lucky — our coast is so rugged and I think that’s what makes it so special.

We’ve got a great diversity of waves in terms of points, reefs, beachies — something for the longboard and the shortboard.

The place I think is most similar is Portugal, around that Ericeira region.

We are incredibly lucky to have this quality at our doorstep.

RAPID RIV:

I’m coming over for dinner, what’re you cooking me? Mexican bowl

Pump up song? Naïve by The Kooks

Favourite movie? The Big Wednesday

Favourite animal? Dogs

1 million dollars? Pumping it into building my new house and investing

If you’d like to nominate the next special guest for Riv on the Record, email [email protected]