Inspire Me Now: Ben Higson

🌟 Inspire Me Now: Ben Higson
Written by his coach, Jacko and 'Ben'

The Long Game
Ben Higson’s freestyle journey began on the Thames Weirs — a young paddler with a big grin and a huge appetite for learning. He first joined the Burners program back in 2018. By 14, he’d already made the GB Freestyle Team and was on his first international Burners camp, paddling across Germany, Austria, France, and Spain.

But for Ben, it was never just about the travel — it was about the friendships. “Getting the chance to make lots of new friends who would later become long-term friends I still speak to now” was one of the most important parts of that early journey.

Ben doesn’t just chase big tricks — he builds them over time. Across 2020, 2021, and 2022, he prepared relentlessly for the World Championships in Nottingham, a process we worked on together. The reward? A silver medal in the Junior Men’s category — made even more special by the fact that all three paddlers on the podium had come through the Burners program.

Rising Into a Leader
Since then, Ben has stepped into the senior ranks, pushing his own paddling further while giving back as a developing coach at Burners weekends. He’s now part of the senior Roster, and his mindset has shifted — it’s no longer just about mastering moves, but about evolving the sport.

He said it best himself: “Now it’s about making the impossible possible.”

Words for Aspiring Athletes
If you’re just starting out, Ben’s advice is simple but powerful:
“Curiosity, obsession and fun will bring your dreams to life.”

That’s how Ben paddles — with heart, with grit, and with joy. And that’s what makes him one of the most exciting athletes in the next generation of freestyle.