How Do You Get Your Significant Other To Film You Surfing?

Ben Doughty is not an elite surfer (at least on a global scale) and he knows it.

“It’s tough to justify submitting something to you guys when I see how INSANE the talent level and wave quality are out of Cali and Brazil,” he wrote in his submission email. “But at the same time, I personally enjoy how relatable the clips you guys post from the east coast are to me, and I know others do too.”

Which is a fair point, but it’s not the reason we decided to post this video.

The reason we decided to post this video is that Ben has managed to convince his significant other (who, like Ben, is a freelance filmmaker) to film him surfing…regularly.

So we decided to ask Ben how in the fuck he managed that one. For strictly research purposes, of course. 

Stab: Age?  
I just turned 25

Where are you from originally?
I was born in North Bend, Oregon, but my family moved to Central Florida when I was three. I grew up in Satellite Beach surfing with my dad at a crumby beachbreak called Seagull Park. I was the only grom who surfed there and everyone else longboarded or fished. 

And now you live in New York City making videos professionally?
Yup. My lady and I primarily shoot wedding videos for city folk and use the profits to travel and surf. Neither of us had much opportunity to do that growing up, so it’s a huge blessing that we can do it now. I was already 16 by the time I went on my first surf trip.  

How do you repay your lady for her surf filming duties?
Long walks on the beach finding seashells, outings into the city, and I do the majority of the cooking (I love to cook). But ultimately she doesn’t film unless she wants to and sometimes that happens to be on the days that are good. I try not to pressure her too much when I am absolutely grom out [laughs]. She films a lot though, in spite of the fact that I will never make a single penny from surfing. Not sure if this makes her an accomplice in my delusion or not, but in my mind, as long as we are enjoying everything, it’s fine. 

Just out of curiosity, what’s rent like in the Rockaways?
We pay $1500 for a studio, so not too bad by NYC standards… But you need a car if you live out here, and I pay about $300 for only Liability coverage compared to $105 in Florida. Shit is nuts here.

Thanks Ben, this has been insightful.