Ben Short is one of those guys that had a banging well paid job by the time he was 20.

Benny Short in the warm embrace of his beloved North Narrabeen. Pic: Smithy

Note: HIGH NOON is a Tracksmag.com feature where we ask everyone from top-level professionals to industry insiders, feral legends and vital grommets 12 timely questions.

Ben Short is one of those guys that had a banging well paid job by the time he was 21. While mates of his were still scratching their heads wondering what next? Ben was off and running. But before you player hate the natural footer from Narrabeen Beach, know that 90% of you would probably consider his work boring. Yes, working with computers may be as exciting as dry toast, but Ben’s surfing is anything but. With a neat frontside hack and a thirst for speed, Ben ticks most boxes – but tends to do the bulk of his surfng above the lip. We caught up with him in Bali…

What’s this latest surf odyssey you’re on all about?

It’s all about having fun, traveling and surfing. I guess I could be doing comps and all that but to me surfing still is my release and the thing I love doing most. Doing it purely for pleasure is pretty damn good. I do have a filmer with me for some of the trip though so it’s not like I’m going feral.

Where will you be traveling and what are you looking for?

I’m traveling around Indonesia. Including Bali of course, Sumbawa and the Mentawai Islands. I’m then going to be traveling through Europe for the next couple of months on a well-earned break.

Talented filmmaker Chase Burns is traveling with you what’s in it for him?

Chase is an awesome guy and a pleasure to travel with; unfortunately he can only come to Bali. Let’s blame it on the GFC [Global Financial Crisis] shall we? He’s just come along for the ride, not much in it for him other than a holiday and a bit of exposure, ideally he would like to get paid but he is helping me out of the kindness of his heart at this stage.

Is that his real name?

Chase Burns does sound very Hollywood, but he is far from it. He’s a down to earth man from Phillip Island in Victoria Australia. A long, long way from Kansas, and Hollywood

Being from Narrabeen, how do you go traveling and not being able to take every wave you want?

I find coming from Narrabeen [on Sydney’s Northern Beaches] helps me quite a lot actually. You are taught from an early age at Narra good surf etiquette and eventually how to get waves in any type of crowd.

You’re a professional computer wizard tittering on becoming a full time professional surfer, why do it?

I’m just on a holiday from my work with one of the big banks in Australia (not saying which) and making the most of the free time. No plans for world domination. Chase Burns and Duncan MacFarlane [photographer] have come along for the ride and both have been having a blast so far. As have I.

Where do you see yourself fitting in the grand scheme of things?

I see myself surfing only for my own enjoyment. Once you make it a job it takes the fun out of it I reckon. Although, if someone wants to pay for me to surf full time I’m not going to say no now am I. Who’d say no to that?

There are a lot of artsy mood shots in your clips (and other modern surf films), which is a lot different to fast cut punk edits of the nineties. What’s next?

Surf films just like everything will go in cycles, everyone will probably get bored of the suspense and start editing early 90’s Taylor Steele style again. Look at Thomas Campbell’s films, some of the stuff looks like its influenced by 1960’s Bruce Brown films you know? It all just depends on what the public want and are interested in watching really.

Bali question, crowded 6ft Keramas or empty 8ft Padang?

Uncrowded 6ft Keramas! I love 8ft Padang, but we haven’t really had enough swell yet to jag it.

Five things you do in Bali everyday that are unlike anything you do at home?

1 – Avoid drinking the tap water.
2 – Drink a lot of Kuku Bima and Extra joss.
3 – Ride a motorbike at high speed going the wrong way up a one-way street with Polisi chasing you.
4 – Hang with people having conversations in five different languages at the same time.
5 – Eat like a king on the salary of a peasant.

Who’s clip do you rate most in Innersection and have you seen Flynn Novak’s full flip?

Due to the slow Internet speed I only got to see a couple of the clips in this round. I did see Flynn’s flip [Hawaii] and the stuff he was doing was pretty crazy. Peter Devries [Canada] was another pretty good one I saw but not sure how it went in the end.?

Bonus question: If your surfing career ended what would we remember you for?

Chop hops and baby step fast walking.

A_FACE_FOR_RADIO-plastic beach from chase burns on Vimeo.

A_FACE_FOR_RADIO-extra joss from chase burns on Vimeo.