Ben Ventress Interview

Interview: Ben Ventress

(questions by Timmy & Drew)


wallride nollie out - photo: Tim Regard

Stats thanks

Benjamin Robert Ventress, born 7th Feb 1978� Just turned 30 this year� shit. Born in Wellington, New Zealand. I moved to Brisbane in 1990 and it�s been all good since then.

So you work at Kwala, what is your official title there?

I�m the National Sales Manager. I basically make sure that our Sales crew and Agents are on point and that all of our stores are looked after properly. We�ve got a rad crew of skaters who work at Kwala, so it�s always good times! After work mini ramp sessions are the best.

Being head of Sales. Do you have graphs �n shit? What do they tell you?

Yeah, I've got Reports coming out of my ass... They tell me that Kwala is killing it!

What's the shortest period of time someone has worked in sales with you?

I'm not really sure... I've gotta give everyone a chance to get it together, but sometimes it just doesn't happen.

Didnt AP work with kwala for a while? Whats he doing these days?

Yeah he was here for a short while... He wasn't feeling the day to day office vibe� I wouldn�t either after getting paid to skate for so long! He's now a Postie and lives way out on the Northside of Brisbane. Not sure how much he skates these days, but I bet he can still do a badass backside ollie.

Why do people in the country like the wack shoe colourways?

Ah yes... D3 syndrome. It's a common problem in regional areas. We still have people ringing up asking for those things.

If there was any brand in the world you could be salesmen guy for, what would it be? You can choose an old dead one if that makes it easier and less politically sensitive.

Something like 101 back in the early 90's. "Have you seen the new Natas 'Devil Worshipper' board we just got in? It's got a sweet looking pic of Satan, a headless baby and some naked people hanging in nooses. So how many do you want?"


back lippy - photo: Tim Regard

I've always wondered how you deal with different customers. I know some are really particular "I'll take 1 of those 8.125 Antihero Trujillo Royal Flush with the longer wheelbase as long it is in the full dipped lilac colouway" while others are more like "100 units of skate deck please".

Yes Drew, you are a pain in the ass to deal with, but somehow I manage to get through it. Dealing with a small surf/skate store from the NT is completely different to a core skate store in Melbourne that's for sure! We deal with such a varied customer base, you've just got to know what each store is after and look after them as well as you can.

Every 15 year old dreams of working in "the industry". What advice do you have for them? I started as a shit kicker at a local surf/skate shop when I was about that age. All you've got to do is work hard and good things will come. The skate industry here is really strong so I'd be psyched to see the next generation of skaters coming through and taking over.

I assume you take/have taken the TM role a bit too. Which young children have you been grooming lately.

Grooming children? Sounds sketchy... I'll leave that for Dubs & Shep to battle out. I'm not really doing much team stuff these days, but I've definitely put in my time. As far as young shredders, kids like Adam Dawes, Woody Butwilowski, Alex Lawton and Joel McIlroy are coming up for sure.

Give us some insight into the life of �the guy who drives the pro�s around on tour�

It�s a pretty crazy experience that�s for sure� The first tour I ever drove on was the Element World Tour back in 1999. I was only young and was totally fanning out on guys like Jeremy Wray, Natas, Markovich and Donny Barley. It was so hard to concentrate on driving... I nearly crashed a couple of times! It�s definitely hard work though� Making sure that a team of 15 or so skaters are at the airport by 6am for an early flight isn�t so much fun, but seeing them destroy spots across the country is amazing.

Which "pro" has been the worst / best to babysit and why?

Most of the guys who come out are really cool. Some tours are a lot tougher than others though. The Antihero 'Tent City' tour was pretty brutal. 3 weeks sleeping in a tent on rocky ground is enough to push anyone to the edge. It was still an amazing experience though and I got to witness some of the gnarliest skating Oz has ever seen! It's rad when you have a preconceived idea of what someone will be like, but they turn out to be totally different. I thought Terry Kennedy would be totally thuggin� and way too cool. He turned out to be one of the funniest, down to earth guys I've met.

Has kwala thought about doing a Hubba tour, instores, demos etc. But not with the skaters, just the chicks from the ads.

I think about it everyday... When I'm all alone. Haha. I only just took down last years Hubba calendar the other day. I couldn't bear to part with it.

I think I missed the 08 Hubba calendar? Is there an 09 coming out, or perhaps some limited Hubba Australia Post stamps, or full print toilet paper?

Yep, the Hubba 09 calendar will be kick starting boys into puberty across the world.

What kind of stuff do you thieve most often from the kwala warehouse?

I�m an unofficial Stereo Sound Agent! I love the boards and Chris Pastras and Jason Lee are the best. I�m riding Thunder Trucks and whatever wheels are good at the time, usually HiFi, Autobahn or Spitfires.


backside ollie - photo: Tim Regard

Who is your favourite Stereo Sound Agent? You can't choose Chris Miller because I already chose him.

Bugger... I'm riding his board right now. I'm a big Clint Peterson fan for sure. Great style and amazing back 360's. Chris Pastras would have to be #1 though... Nicest guy ever, smooth style and he still kills it! Yeah Neville Sanzibar!

Have you been watching my name is Earl

Yep, J Lee is the best. First time I met him was of all places at a Crab Restaurant in San Diego... So funny watching him eat crab legs, I just wanted to hear him say "Hey Crab Man!"

If you rock products from other companies to you have to hide them from Andy?

Haha... I'm representing Kwala pretty much all the time so I wear our gear everywhere. I do have a fairly extensive Sneaker collection that rarely gets to see the light of day though. Strictly for nights out in the Valley.

What's Vintage?

Vintage is a video that Rob Madden, Marti Stahlman and myself made. We all had a bit of footy sitting around so we decided to make a small 'Bros' vid. We called it Vintage due to us all being cranky, sore old men. As we were filming for it we managed to get enough footy for some really good parts from guys like Aaron Rowe, Tim Regard, Max Olijnyk, Kane Stewart and a few others. We had a friend do some cool animations as well. The video ended up coming out so good! We had a premiere back in Jan in Bris and it was off the charts. I'm only just getting copies done now, so if anyone wants a copy, just holla!

Ok, I've just checked the photos. I'm not sure I can run the interview. My CEO expects me to adhere to a 70% rail/stair minimum. Can you perhaps hit up a >12 stair rail for me. If so can I make some suggestions in the wardrobe department as well?

I can barely walk down 12 stairs these days... Let alone huck myself down em! I'm not out to impress anyone with my skating so as clich�d as it sounds, I'm all about having fun. I like weird spots and tricks that feel good. As far as my wardrobe goes, do you have a problem with my chinos?

So you ride a zip ziggler too? If Gonz puts his underpants on his head is it art?

I love the Cruiser board. Skating thru the City at night on it is so much fun... Just hitting each spot a couple of times and cruising to the next before Security even has a chance to get out the door. I'm down for Gonz's dyslexic art for sure!

According to your myspace, your married.. how is married life working out?

It�s good times for sure! My wife Elissa is awesome. We had our first anniversary last week which was cool.


smith - photo: Tim Regard

How do you go being married to a pro skater. It must be hard with her traveling heaps filming for the upcoming Zero video?

Worst question ever. My Elissa couldn't be less of a skater! Haha. She's awesome!

Word around town is your honeymoon was somewhat of a skateboarder�s dream?

Yeah for sure. We hired a car and drove around Europe for a month. All the way from Paris down to Barcelona. I only got to skate a couple of times, at Marseilles and MACBA, but I�d already done the full on skate pilgrimage through Europe a couple of years earlier. It was rad to do it again taking our time and doing the full tourist thing everywhere.

How was it shooting with Mike O�Meally for your first Skate Mag photo?

Pretty random! It was at Toombul Skatepark on the northside in Brissy. He was there shooting with Simon Bundy and I was just cruising around skating the park. He asked if I wanted to shoot a frontside flip over the hip and I was speechless. The sequence came out so good� He made an average trick look like it was 6 feet high and 10 feet long! Cheers Mike!

If there was one thing in skateboarding that you could change, what would that be?

I wish Skatestoppers were never invented.

*What�s your view on �the industry� as of the last couple years?

It�s hard to say because I�m so deep in it. I eat, sleep and breathe skateboarding. I work in the industry and for the most part it�s awesome.

There has been a really bad omen over the Queensland skate scene recently with some of our closest friend�s losing their lives. Is there anything you want to say to everyone reading this that may have some trouble in their lives?

Talk to someone. I�ve known a few people who have taken their own lives and it always comes as such a surprise to everyone, even their close friends and family.

Will you give yourself photo incentive for this interview? Would you give any team riders ePhoto incentive?

No way... I'm hyped just to be considered for the interview. I don't expect to get paid for it! If we pay ePhoto incentive, does that mean we have to pay for YouTube appearances as well?

Can I have a sticker?

Sure.

Ender Enders..

Thanks to Elissa, Kwala, Andy MacK, Vintage, Dudes, all the ginger brothers out there and everyone that loves and lives Skateboarding.

shifty - photo: Tim Regard