Catching up with Benoni’s Buys

The 24-year-old former Benoni High School pupil’s chosen sport has taken him to all kinds of places around the world (he hasn’t experienced a South African winter in four years!).

Sports journalist Logan Green caught up with the “wake boss”, to find out what exactly he has been up to since he returned from the USA.

LG: You have been over in the USA for their summer, where in the US did you go and what was the reason behind it?

MB: I started my trip in Austin, Texas. From there I road tripped to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and then finally ended up driving around Florida before heading back to Texas for the last few weeks. The main reason for my trip was that I had been selected to be in a new wakeskating video that features 12 riders from around the world riding in both their home environments and in the USA. So, this trip was all about gathering photos and footage for this project.

LG: It wasn’t the first time that you have been over in the States, what was different this time around?

MB: This was my fourth year in America and, thankfully, also my fourth year without a winter, so that was cool. Most of my trips have been based around contests and moving around to where they are. This year, with the focus being more on filming, we were more centred on only leaving a place once we had what we wanted, which is cool because there is not that crazy contest pressure, although there is still a lot of work that goes into it. There are days where you can spend three hours on one trick that only takes up about four seconds of a video.

LG: Learn anything new while out there?

MB: I learned how to drive on the wrong side of the road (ha ha). Every time I travel I learn a bunch and I think anyone else who does will say the same. From a wakeskating point of view there were a lot of new tricks learned. I also learned how to work with filmmakers that side and what makes the end product look really good. Often subtle things that you don’t even notice can make the guy behind the lens’s job a lot easier.

LG: What’s it like to be back home, and where have you been riding since you’ve been back?

MB: I always enjoy getting back to Benoni. We have a solid group of people in this town with whom I love spending time. Each year I come back is different because I have learnt more and see things differently, but it is always great coming home. As soon as I got back I made a trip to Richards Bay and then to the South Coast for demonstrations and promotional purposes, so that is where most of my riding has been done, but I am sure I will be getting some riding at the cable, in Midrand, soon.

LG: What are you plans going forward now with wakeskating?

MB: Well right now I’m busy nursing a bruised heel back into shape, so the next week or so is about rest, as tough as that is. Then, from there on, I will continue filming for the movie, which is scheduled to come out in 2017. We have a lot of work still to do. Then, of course, there’s the World Champs in Mexico next year, which is a big one, and, lastly, I am hoping to finish out the South African Wakeskate Tour and,hopefully, get more people on boards and on the water.

LG: Any wakeskating endeavours in South Africa that we should take note of?

MB: The last stop of the South African Wakeskate Tour is scheduled to happen in November and from there on our season will be in full swing from January next year, with contests across all platforms.

LG: Where can local fans see you in action again?

MB: Ha ha, if I have any fans! I will be riding mostly at Stoke City in Midrand and, hopefully, even the odd day at Rynfield Dam if we have a boat down there. Our last contest is down in Cape Town, if anyone is going to be there.

LG: Anything else to add?

MB: I think that’s pretty much it. Thank you to everyone who has helped me out along the way, my mom and dad and the family, the Peaches and Krauses, Onethirtyone Crew and everyone in the industry and Benoni.