In Search of the Canna Ramp reaches Boardmasters
After nearly a week of exploring skateable terrain across the West Country, finally the search for the Canna Ramp reaches Boardmasters and the ramp is found.
Pro Ben Grove has appeared in local productions, feature films, ads and promos, as well as having a history of great performances in competitions – highlights include first-placed finishes at The House Comp in 2007 and 2012, second at NASS 2008, third at NASS 2009, eighth place at Simple Session 2010, and two fourth-placed finishes at the UKSA National Skateboard Championships.
For many years he was part of the Vans Europe team, featuring in the brand’s 1966 video from 2010, and he also appeared in Blueprint’s Lost and Found from 2005. Now sponsored by Relentless, Supra, Zukie, Kr3w and Smuggling Duds, Ben no longer cares for the pressure of championships, instead choosing to focus on doing what he loves and not being coerced into compromising his art for anyone else.
He was born and brought up in Manchester, England, the city that remains his favourite place to skate and his primary inspiration. He burst onto the scene in 2002, with a part in Blueprint’s Belong Tour video, and was quickly picking up sponsorship deals with companies such as Note skateshop, Spitfire wheels, Indy trucks, Urban Kreation jeans and Shake Junt hardware.
His pure style has led to him being described by his sponsors as ‘the UK’s premier street skater’, and you’d be hard pressed to find many in the industry who would disagree with that assessment. Inspired by riders such as Vaughan Baker, Ben is one of the few skaters around able to bring out the roughness of the ultimate street skater, while maintaining an easy-going flow.
