Page 11 - Southwell School_The Chronicle July 2021

BEN BROWN (1987 - 1991)
CLIVING LIFE ON THE EXTREME
rocodile infested waters, militant guerilla groups, After retiring from full time kayaking in 2018 Ben turned
a broken back, extreme water falls drops and his attention to adventures of a more nautical variety and, navigating roaring rapids are just some of the seeing a gap in the market, decided to use his film making
experiences Ben Brown (1987 -1991) has had during his life of constant adventure, travel, pushing the boundaries and seeking out his next adrenaline rush.
Ben, a former professional Red Bull sponsored athlete, in whitewater kayaking, is considered a New Zealand white- water legend, having completed at least nine first descents of rivers or rapids in nine different countries. Becoming the first Kiwi to be given a Red Bull helmet, which is akin to being knighted in the world of extreme sports, saw Ben spending 18 years as a Red Bull athlete, kayaking his way around the world, exploring some of the most incredible corners of our planet and honing his film making skills along the way.
Ben’s sense of adventure and love of water was ingrained in him from a young age, with weekends and holidays spent sailing the seas with family. This passion was further fueled when, as a 14-year-old at St Paul’s Collegiate, he was intro- duced to kayaking at their Tihoi Venture school. As a result of this experience whitewater filled his veins, with free time spent around the Waikato and Bay of Plenty in the region’s rivers and waterfalls kayaking with mates. With a degree from Waikato University ticked off, Ben headed off to the cradle of all things whitewater, the Zambezi River, followed by expeditions that included the icy fiords of Norway and Iceland, the granite drops of California, Nevada, Uganda and Southern Sudan, The White Nile, Thailand and Canada.
and photography skills to target the online content space where there is fast turnover and flexibility. ‘Built to Fish TV’ was born.
Ben shares his adventures and stunning visuals with
his huge online following, bringing high quality fishing and boating content from his expeditions around
New Zealand’s amazing coastline, exploring some of
New Zealand’s best fishing hotspots while giving out top tips and techniques to secure that once in a lifetime catch! Ben is a talented angler and adventurer and knows how to get on to some trophy-sized snapper, kingfish & marlin.
But Ben’s passion and enthusiasm for the ocean extends far beyond the thrill of the catch – he releases most of the fish he catches back into the sea and believes if we can get an educated and engaged fishing community in New Zealand we will have a stronger voice to protect our fisheries. This talented Hamilton based angler and adventurer, a typical Kiwi bloke who loves his rugby and a cold brew, knows how to capture his audience – you can feel his passion,
Ben Brown is living his dream!
Follow Ben’s escapades on
• Facebook, Built to Fish TV
• Instagram, builttofish
• You Tube, Built to Fish TV http://builttofish.tv