Ben King, local Byron Bay, Aus surfer - RIP
aka Bob
RIP Ben King
Ben King (BK) of Byron Bay passes on while at competition in Yamba
NSW.
Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 12 March, 2006 : - - Byron Bay today
lost one of its leading citizens and top surfers, with the passing of
Ben King, born and bred Byron Bay local, known and loved by many.
Ben King suffered a suspected heart attack, collapsing on the beach
after winning his heat in the Far North Coast NSW Regional Titles at
Yamba. The final was not held in this division as a mark of respect to
King, and he has been declared the regional champion in his division.
Ben King known and loved by many, the godfather of Byron Bay surfing,
only two weeks ago guided his club, the Byron Bay Boardriders, to
victory in the Kirra Teams Challenge. This being one of the proudest
days in his many years as President of the club, but Ben was always
proud to be a Byron boy, win, lose, or draw. The dearth of surfing
talent that is exists in Byron Bay has been nurtured and guided by
this man, whose generosity, kindness, and undeniable good character is
known not only in Australia but by traveling surfers from around the
globe.
Ben was not only a surfer, but also a genuine family man. Survived by
his childhood sweetheart and wife Jenny, and their three beautiful
children, Kurt 15, Maddi 14, and Paris 7, the hole Ben has left will
be a hard one to fill. Kurt and Maddi are serious junior competitors
in their own right, and even 7 year old Paris has been out the back
shooting the curl at the Pass, or at Ben’s favourite breaks of Tallows
or Dolphin Beaches. They will sorely miss their father and hero
paddling out and sharing the waves they love with them. Ben not only
could organize a boardriders club, but also could tear apart any wave
he could get hold of, and had respect of surfers from grommets to
members of the World Championship Tour.
Ben and Jenny King are Byron Bay Boardriders, and the upcoming Ocean
and Earth Byron Bay Easter Classic, one of the longest running amateur
events in the world has been renamed to the Ben King Memorial Classic
to be held at Easter on April 14th, 15th, and 16th this year. This
event will be the biggest in the competitions history, the respect for
the man meaning that just competing in the event is an honour.
Ben King was not only a legend in surfing, but also a legend as a man,
a father, a husband, and a friend, and nothing will replace the man
known as BK. .......................... Miss you mate
"It's not that I'm afraid to die. I just don't want to be there when it happens." - Woody Allen
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Wax-up and drop-in of Surfing's Golden Years: <http://www.surfwriter.net>
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aka Bob
<bobf...@surfwriter.net.not> magnanimously proffered:
>http://www.surfersvillage.com/surfing/20747/news.htm
>
>RIP Ben King
>
>Ben King (BK) of Byron Bay passes on while at competition in Yamba
>NSW.
He was only 42. Article with photo:
http://makeashorterlink.com/?I13D220DC
TRIBUTES POUR IN FOR KING OF THE WAVES
14.03.2006
By BRUCE MACKENZIE
FOR the first time in years, it’s easy to spot the locals in Byron Bay
-- they’re the ones with an expression of stunned disbelief on their
faces.
The death of Ben King, due to an apparent heart attack on Sunday, has
rocked the town and sent shockwaves through the broader surfing
community. The 42-year-old’s death has puzzled his friends and family,
with many now vowing to have their own health checked.
A highly-respected president of the Byron Bay Boardriders Club, BK
collapsed on the beach at Yamba just minutes after winning his heat in
the masters division of the Far North Coast titles.
As news of his death spread throughout the community, people were
drawn to the family’s home opposite the Tallow Beach surf break known
as Dolphins.
The enormous white brick structure was the castle the king had built
for his queen, Jenny, the high-school sweetheart he married more than
20 years ago.
Jenny yesterday had one last message for her soul mate:
"I have loved you always and will love you for ever," she said.
"You have touched everyone’s life who crossed your path. I am
privileged to be the mother of your three amazing children. You will
be with me and in my heart for ever. I love you."
Three generations of surfers yesterday gathered to pay their respects
and offer support to Jenny and the family’s three children — Kurt, 14,
Maddi, 13, and Paris, 7.
BK was a surfer’s surfer, passionate, committed and talented. Once one
of the Bay’s brightest junior stars, his love for the act of riding
waves was regenerated when his son, Kurt, began hitting the water.
Always one to give 100 per cent, Ben was soon president of the
boardriders’ club and head of the committee that tackled the awesome
logistical task of organising each year’s Easter Surfing Classic. That
contest will go ahead, and from now on will be known as the Ben King
Memorial Classic.
The club’s crack squad sent their leader out on a fine note with a
stunning performance on the Gold Coast earlier this month. A
last-minute, nine-point ride by Yerin Brown sealed victory for the Bay
boys in the hotly-contested Kirra Teams Challenge.
That night BK wore the enormous trophy around his neck like the
world’s biggest medal, and it looked a good fit.
Ben was also instrumental in the campaign to allow local residents
free parking rights at places like The Pass and Tallow, and opened the
doors of his home to surfers from around the globe.
So, as Neil Young once noted, the King is gone, but he’s not
forgotten. He’ll leave a huge hole in the lives of all who knew him,
and Byron Bay certainly won’t seem the same.
Brickies who had worked with, and for, BK over the years have been
heard muttering something about ‘we’re going to have to build a bigger
church’.
The funeral arrangements have yet to be finalised.
A traditional surfers’ farewell ‘paddle out’ is also planned, provided
we can find a bay big enough to hold all those expected to turn up.
BK was a much-loved son of Col and Pat King, and the respected
son-in-law of Tony and Heather Mikellides.
Tribute: http://www.byronbay.org/
Farewell paddle-out:
http://www.globalsurfnews.com/news.asp?Id_news=20807
aka Bob
<bobf...@surfwriter.net.not> magnanimously proffered:
>http://www.surfersvillage.com/surfing/20747/news.htm
>
>RIP Ben King
>
>Ben King (BK) of Byron Bay passes on while at competition in Yamba
>NSW.
Huge paddle-out in memory of Ben King, with photo:
http://www.globalsurfnews.com/news.asp?Id_news=20882
Farewell Paddle Out for Ben King
Surfing Fraternity shows its respect
Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 22 March, 2006 : - - The Byron Bay
surfing fraternity came out in numbers to farewell a well loved family
man and Byron Bay Boardriders President, Ben King. BBBRC members took
an active part in the paddleout in support of the family, wife jenny,
Kurt, Maddi and Paris.
It was a sendoff not seen before in the Bay, with many surfers
travelling from the Gold Coast and interstate to be there. Around 600
surfers paddled out after a short service on the beach, leaving at
least another 200 watching from the beach.
The traditional circle and blessing was managed in fine style
considering there were such a large number of surfers involved, a
credit to the club organisers and the goodwill of those involved.
Likewise, the church service overflowed with a large crowd listening
to the service from outside the church. Ben has left a lasting legacy
for local surfers to nurture. An aloha spirit and a focus on the
successful future of the Byron Bay Boardriders and surfing in "the
Bay".
aka Bob
<bobf...@surfwriter.net.not> magnanimously proffered:
>http://www.surfersvillage.com/surfing/20747/news.htm
>
>RIP Ben King
>
>Ben King (BK) of Byron Bay passes on while at competition in Yamba
>NSW.
>
>Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 12 March, 2006 : - - Byron Bay today
>lost one of its leading citizens and top surfers, with the passing of
>Ben King, born and bred Byron Bay local, known and loved by many.
Some great photos. Rusty Miller is one of international surfing's most
respected surfers and contest winners. Originally from Southern
California, he has been living in Byron Bay for some time now:
http://www.pacificlongboarder.com/news.asp?id=200&category=1
VALE BEN KING
Wednesday, 22 March 2006
On Sunday 12 March Byron Bay Boardrider’s Club President Ben King
collapsed and died of a suspected heart attack on the beach at Yamba
after winning his heat at the Far North Coast Regional Titles. He was
only 42.
President of the club since 2001, Ben originally joined the club as a
14-year-old grommet and was actively engaged as competitor and
administrator right through most recently guiding the club to victory
in the Kirra Teams Challenge.
Ben’s generosity of spirit, community involvement and contribution to
surfing and surfers will be sorely missed. He is survived by wife and
childhood sweetheart Jenny and children Kurt 15, Maddi 14 and Paris 7.
An auction to benefit the family is planned for 23 April.
The Ocean & Earth Easter Classic has been renamed the Ben King
Memorial Classic in his honour.
RUSTY MILLER sums up the feeling of many in Byron and elsewhere with
these emailed thoughts on his friend:
20 March: Tomorrow there will be a paddle out for Ben King . . . the
town of Byron is closing lots of the shops . . . I predict there might
be a thousand surfers showing up . . . A first for this often now
accused of being greedy town . . . He was president of the Byron Bay
Boardriders . . . born and bred local . . . stalwart of the cradle to
grave set up here that provides kids infrastructure in comp and . . .
One of those guys who on mid freezing winter day with crappy one foot
onshore slop day at Suffolk Park . . . was always at the beach setting
up the trailer, doing the tallies . . . assigning and assisting . . .
and helping the kids run through the heats . . . many a parent so
happy that their kids got into the surfing discipline and therefore
saved them from other mucho negative scenarios . . . He was a
gentleman in every way . . . shortboarder who empathised with the
longboarders . . . because he saw every ocean lover as a surfer . . .
Absolute epitome of the kind, gentle, understanding, sincere loving
soul . . . Permanently always stoked . . . tolerant of those who were
different . . . Believer in civility . . .
He was the colour of the positive spirit of Byron Bay.
21 March: Been to a few paddle outs . . . This one was the most
community comprehensive I have ever been part of . . . Ben was a
tradesman bricklayer and surf community organizer, surf shop owner and
then real estate agent . . . And vocal lover of the surfing lifestyle
. . . Like a good bricklayer he built solid, plumb and square, strong
foundations . . . places where people lived well, supported, cool and
comfortable and protected from the storms of life . . . the people in
Byron who had been blessed to be living in his constructed atmosphere
closed their shops, left their jobs and pursuits to the side . . . and
spent the day sending Ben into the next place where we all will
eventually go . . . paddle out in the morning, service in the arvo and
wake into the night.