Mark Balasbas: Amazing friend, excellent videographer, solid bodyboarder, certified lifeguard, and all-around waterman. These are just a few definitions of who and what Mark is and represents for not only me, but for the entire Hawaiian bodyboarding community. With his prior experience in creating “Below Ground Level” (A bodyboarding video highlighting Oahu’s underground rippers), along with Spunjahchronic.com (A bodyboarding website dedicated to updating the world about what’s happening in Hawaii), Mark’s editing/videoing talent continues to push bodyboarders locally and worldwide. Without further adieu, I present to you the most passionate bodyboarder I know, Mark Balasbas.

-Paul Benco

What’s your name?
Mark Balasbas

Where are you from originally?
Oahu… lived in various parts of the island until 18 years old.

Where do you live now?
Pupukea since the year 2000.

How old are you?
27

How long have you been bodyboarding?
20 years

Prone or DK? If both, how much of each?
Both…75 percent Prone 25 percent DK.

Who do you bodyboard with?
Anyone that’s down to bodyboard—Myself, lots of people from different islands and other parts of the world.

What are your favorite bodyboard spots?
There’s plenty. For Oahu I’d have to say the bowl (not Ala Moana), the bend, the plate, the wall (Waikiki and North Shore), 1st hole, Mo’o’s head and the dips. Internationally it would be Suck Rock, Teahupoo, Sapinus and the Volcano. And there’s tons more on the outer islands of Hawaii that you can discover by simply going to Hawaiianairlines.com.

Where have you traveled to bodyboard?
Tahiti, south pacific islands, outer islands of Hawaii, Australia and Japan.

Where do you want to travel to bodyboard?
The World.

What board(s) do you ride?
Science DK 5 41″ & a BSD custom.

Do you compete?
Hardly, I’d rather watch, there’s lots of guys that come to Hawaii compete and it’s an entertaining site. Although, I’d like to compete more in the coming year.

If so, what competitions have you competed in?
2006 Pipeline Pro, USBA Sandy Beach, IBA Kewalo Basin & Dead Trees & Surf into Summer.

What is the bodyboarding community in Hawaii like?
Epic!

Do you have any sponsors? What companies?
No, and I’m happy to put money into the sport for gear. From 2002 through 2007 I worked at Hawaiian Island Creations, and I was fortunate enough to meet a lot of different company representatives and get some great discounts on products I can use out in and out of the water to this day. It was probably the best benefit of working for the surf shop since the pay was that of a janitor at McDonalds. I met all of these people in the industry on my own by getting to know them personally when the time was right not just by dropping a name here and there or riding on someone’s shoulders to get ahead with them. I believe free products should go to people who deserve it, not people who just want it to be greedy or have status. I truly believe that if we lived in a perfect world a person who is sponsored should be noticed by action and experience in the field, not how good they can talk themselves up or promote themselves behind a computer.

What other board sports do you partake in?
Anything on water!

What bodyboard goals do you have?
Put out films showing the mind blowing talent Hawaii has to offer as well as displaying the ultimate wave riding vehicle, the bodyboard, in it’s purest form. As for riding my goal is to conquer fear, discovery of riding and getting stronger. And, of course, do it as long as I can.

Where do you see bodyboarding going in the future?
It’s sketchy right now knowing who’s got “the most money” behind it.

What riders influenced your bodyboarding?
The guys in the videos like Mike Stewart, Brian Wise, Seamas Mercado, Ben Severson, Jack, Maligs, and some friends like Heights, Kalani Kamaka, Leslie Obara, Ross Akiona, Elia, Shanoah & Chris, Mark G & Corey, Tim Jackson, Happy, Hermz, couple rippers from town, plenty guys from Aiea. Subcon. Mom & Nate.

What riders are pushing the sport right now?
Sooooo many, the continent of Australia & Garth Macgregor, Teahupoo boys, last but not least the Hawaiians… a few names I’ve noticed in the water in recent years: Paul Benco, Herman Ano, Nakana Riveira, KK, Stewart, Hubb, Skipp, Dubb, Kalima, Jerry, Shanoah, Derek Miyashiro, OG Pohoiki crew, Timmy, David Philips, Jacob Romero, Da Hapz, all the rippers at the wall, West Oahu local bodyboarders, Micah & his brother from Honoka’a side, Chingy, Bud, Tyson, Randrup, Vaj… couple wahines… choke guys I never mention that push it hard… the list goes on you know.

If you were stranded on a desert island that already has a plentiful resource of bodyboards and fins what three things would you bring?
Water, Ele & dive gear.

What is the best advice you can give to a bodyboard grom trying to get recognized?
If recognition is on your mind so be it, don’t let it run your life and always wake up and ask yourself why you surf. Respect those who came before you: It’s a chain that you’ll be glad you didn’t let go of.

Any last words of advice? Shout outs?
Surf all day
R.I.P. Mom & Dad. I love you both and thank you for building my character I will uphold your pride till the day I die.
Chris Randrup
The internet can be the best and worst tool for the growth of the sport of bodyboarding, use it wisely.
No one except the creator owns the ocean, until that creator tells you to leave then surf it up!
www.heightsproductions.com
www.spunjahchronic.com (Hawaiian made bodyboarding videos and news!)