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Written by Administrator
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Wednesday, 29 August 2007 |
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Name: Cathal ‘Ben’ Bennett
Occupation: Surf Coach, Ben’s Surf Clinic
Location: Ballybane
Favourite thing about Galway: The pubs!
Worst thing about Galway: Roundabouts and people who don’t know how to use them.
Cathal ‘Ben’ Bennett discovered surfing when he began working in Delphi Adventure Centre in County Mayo 14 years ago. Today, he still lives in the West and has built up his own business as a surf instructor.
Originally from Kildare, Ben has always had a love for the outdoors and has developed his passion for surfing into a career. After travelling all over the world as a surfer and teaching up and down the West of Ireland, he decided that the market was there was for more advanced surf coaching. One of very few level two coaches in the country, Ben says that interest in surfing in growing at a very high rate in Ireland.
“Surfing had exploded in the West in the last six years, probably due to equipment getting cheaper and attitudes changing. People don’t want to just go on the beer for the weekend anymore; they want to do something different. I see all different ages coming into the sport from families to older people – there are so many different levels that anyone can get involved.
“You often see groups of people heading off at the weekend with their boards now, which is great. I think Irish people have discovered their coast for the first time, and figured out that there is something they can do with it,” he says.
Ireland’s reputation for surfing has also travelled across the world with new developments in the sport.
“There is a huge wave off the Cliffs of Moher now, and it is about 35 foot high. So that has become quite famous now and has spread the notoriety of Irish surfing. When I was travelling ten years ago and I told people that I was an Irish surfer, they wouldn’t believe it. That has changed a lot now and people are travelling here to check it out.”
While the number of people involved in surfing in Ireland is on the increase, Ben says it takes a particular type of person to become involved in instruction. And as with any job, it has its benefits and drawbacks!
“It can be very hard in the winter. Because it so seasonable, you have to put in the hours in the summer, so a lot of other things suffer such as relationships and seeing your friends. The weather is a huge factor as well. It is more exciting than your typical desk job but sometimes I think that I would love a more regular job when I’m getting hit by hailstones in a force seven wind!”
The key to being a good instructor, according to Ben, is that you have to want to teach. “You can be the greatest surfer in the world and not be a good instructor; you have to really want it because sometimes you will be standing there with a class and your friends will be surfing some of the best waves 50 metres away and you have to stay working, that can be very hard. It is kind of weird because it is your hobby and your work put together but I love it. And you get a great tan as well!”
Outside of surfing, Ben is a massive sports fan and is also currently completing a Masters in Sports Psychology.
“I am a huge rugby fan, and any kind of sport really. I was at the recent Connaught rugby game against South Africa and that was fantastic. Between the surfing and college, I don’t have that much time off and I get a bit uncomfortable when I am away from the water anyway!
“I hope to maybe venture into lecturing eventually while still keeping the Surf Clinic going. There aren’t many jobs that you can have three months off in the summer and keep your weekends free so that is something I would like to do. One of the best things about surfing is that there is always another step. After 14 years, I am still learning every day!”
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