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7 QUICK QUESTIONS WITH BEN...
When was the moment that you knew kiteboarding was going to become more than just a hobby?
It wasn’t right at first, actually. I learned in Seattle (USA) where the water is borderline frigid on a warm day, and I didn’t really have too much of a clue what I was doing. I would say that it really began to rule my life when I realized that on my day off of work I was driving around for hours trying to find a spot to kite close by. It was about then that I knew it had gone way beyond just something I do in my spare time. I was obsessed.
How do you think that your experience in the kiteboarding scene has prepared you for going after a new brand with Axon?
I have had the opportunity to be involved at so many different levels of the sport that I feel I can relate to the entire chain of people in the industry. From the riders who are just amped to get out in any condition, to the touring pros, to the factory guys building the products. I feel like I have a pretty good grasp on what works in the industry and which products do well. I have so many people to thank for giving me tons of advice and insight along the way.
Has having the opportunity to travel the world influenced the products that are being made by Axon?
Absolutely. There really is no one singular wind or water condition out there, so keeping yourself in one place can oftentimes stifle the R&D process. If I would have never traveled to the extent that I have (which is I think 32 countries now), I would never have known that it is important to seek out adverse and different conditions for every product. Something could work great in the flat water of Hatteras and be terrible in the chop of Cabarete. The trick is to make something that works 90% of the time, all of the time.
Which boards are you riding now?
I switch between the 136 Pulse and the 135 nyc for my freestyle boards (both on the wide stance), and am riding the 5’8 Quad Fish for a surfboard. The Pulse and the freeride boards are just so dependable. There really is nothing that you can throw at them that they can’t handle. That being said, the nyc has that 5th gear that you can tap into. For the surf, the 5’8 makes ordinary surf feel good. It’s summer now, so smaller waves need a snappy fun board.
In just a few words, tell us what is different about the Axon boards compared to other brands.
Attention to detail is the biggest one that comes to mind. You can have the best design ever, but if one small thing is off, the overall experience is ruined. We tried to make every part as perfect as possible so that the footpads and footstraps are just as fine tuned as the board constructions. One small piece that isn’t right can ruin a product, so Axon tries to make sure that the small yet important things are taken care of. I think the graphics look pretty insane as well.
Do you have a scariest moment on a kite?
For sure. Probably kiting off the North Shore of Maui in solid 30-foot waves (faces). It is a pretty humbling experience seeing something the size of a house bearing down on you. I knew I was scared when I was having trouble connecting my lines because my hands were shaking.
What does being able to introduce your own brand mean to you?
So much. I feel that I have the opportunity to give back to the sport that has helped shape the direction of my life, and I want to make the most of it. I have kiteboarding to thank for some of the best friends that I have, for introducing me to my wife, and for giving me hours of alone time on the water to relax and decompress. I want to share my passion and vision for the sport as we move into the next decade of the industry. I am so stoked to be a part of the sport and hope to capture the soul and energy of it in the Axon brand.