Interview with Benoit Pauc from Surf Balance

Hey! Who are you, and what are you working on?

Hey! I am Benoit, I have created a website surf-balance.com.

After surfing for 20 years, I decided during the lockdown that I wanted to surf better and learn how to protect the ocean at the same time. Instead of doing this alone and in order to achieve my goals, I wanted to share with the French surfing community my 20-year experience and the knowledge I will find on my way to get better (surfing techniques, preparation out of the water, nutrition, plastic waste management...).

The idea is to share free information doing tutorials until I achieve my goals and then to create a business/product/service around the needs of the community I will have built. After 6 months, we are almost 1900 people on Instagram (@surf_balance) and I have a lot of fun doing this.

 

How did you come up with the idea?

During the lockdown. I have normally a very time-consuming job and with the lockdown, I had nothing to do, just time to think and do some introspection. I found that at the end of the day, surfing is the thing take makes me feel the most alive, I felt that I needed to improve and to share this with people.

My reflections also drove me to another conclusion, I needed to learn how to respect more the ocean as a surfer and share ideas as it is not something that is taught to people when they go to school or to a surf school. In brief, just live my passion in the respect of this planet and share it with people. :-)

 
Surf balance Benoit (1).jpeg

What are the main challenges in your business right now?

I would say 3 things :

  • I have to learn new skills (video editing, social networks...)

  • Find time, as I am no more Lockdowned, my other activity is again time-consuming

  • Get people to know Surf Balance through the social networks and google with my website

 

What is your favorite surf spot and why?

"La Grande plage" in Biarritz, France. I live in front of it, this is where I got my first waves and also where I see most of my surfer friends.

 

Where can we learn more about you?


James Marshall