Today we’d like to introduce you to Ben Groen.
Hi Ben, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
I grew up in New Zealand and learned how to water ski there with my family. My father was a competitive barefoot Waterskier, and I always wanted to follow in his footsteps. When I was 18 I traveled to Florida, started getting some instruction at the World Barefoot Center, and began taking my skiing seriously on a competitive level.
Fast forward 13 years, and I now run the World Barefoot Center with my fiancé, Ashleigh Stebbings, and spend my summers traveling the states, passing on my passion to others. This has led me to spend 3-4 weeks every summer in Minnesota, working with numerous show ski teams inside and outside the Twin Cities.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a smooth road?
It hasn’t been a smooth road, and there have been a lot of obstacles along the way. I learned how to handle defeat at major tournaments in my younger years, navigate the business world, build and maintain relationships with ski teams, and constantly push to grow my network and outreach within the waterski world.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Primarily, I am a professional barefoot waterskier, currently ranked number 1 in the world, and gunning for my first World title come February 2023. I am also a full-time instructor and coach, teaching others to learn how to waterski on their own 2 feet.
I spend my fall, winter, and spring in Florida training and running the World Barefoot Center, and my summers traveling to different ski teams across the country. Some of the teams in Minnesota I’ve worked with over the years include; The River Rats, Little Crow Ski Team, Detroit Lakes North Stars, The Ski Otters, and The Ski Dox.
I would say what I’m most proud of is the obstacles I’ve overcome in my waterskiing journey and the level I’ve reached through hard work and discipline. I was never the most naturally talented skier, but I was never afraid to put in the time and work off the water. Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
My parents have always been highly supportive of the path I’ve chosen to take in life, and I wouldn’t be doing what I do today without their support and guidance. My fiancé, Ashleigh, is also a driving force in our training and competing through waterskiing and running the World Barefoot Center and continuing to push the ski school to new eyes. My Coach, Gary “Swampy” Bouchard, is one of the highest factors in our success. Not only is he responsible for everything I’ve overcome and achieved on the water, but he is also our business partner in the ski school and took me under his wing early on in the relationship, educating me about business and how to think like a leader.
Pricing:
- $160 for a half day of ski lessons
- $240 for a full day of ski lessons
Contact Info:
- Website: www.worldbarefootcenter.com
- Instagram: www.Instagram.com/bengroen
- Facebook: www.Facebook.com/barefootbengroen
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/user/WorldBarefootCenter
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@ben_groen
Image Credits
Faith Dix
