Name: Benjamin Sanchis
DOB: 13/03/78
Home town: Hossegor, France
Sponsors: Billabong, Etnies, Nixon, Electric, Gorilla Grip
Stance: Regular
Favourite Surfers: Andy Irons, Joel Parkinson


If ever there is a surfer that lives in the moment, it is Benjamin “Sancho” Sanchis. His life is simply about chasing the best and biggest waves he can find, and having the best possible time while doing it. His adventures, shown best in his blog “Where’s Sancho” showcase both a true commitment to surfing waves of consequence and a real love for the life experiences that travel can bring.

Growing up in the quality waves of Hossegor, it soon became apparent that Sanchis had bucketloads of talent, and sparring and matching his best mates and successful professional surfers Mickey Picon and Fred Robin, meant a successful competitive career was a reality.

However Sancho found that the lure of the competition was not as strong as his thirst for adventure and big barrels. Giving up the grind of the professional surfing tour, he traveled the world for months and months at a time, ending up proving himself in some of the heaviest waves in the world, like Teahupoo. Given the chance to become a free surfer, it meant that along with his tow partner Eric Rebeire, he could dedicate himself to finding waves that could match his courage and ambition.

It was perhaps ironic that in 2011 he won the Billabong XXL Biggest Wave Award for a 60 feet high wave at Belharra, a big-wave spot located only 20 miles from his own bed. He backed that with a win in the inaugural Billabong Tow-in Challenge held in 20 foot slabs Mullaghmore Ireland, as well as being one of the standouts in the monster Teahupoo swell in the middle of 2011’s Billabong Pro. In between these sessions there was trips to the Mediterranean, Mavericks, Morocco and Malibu and the Mentawais.

Sancho has established himself as one of Europe’s premier big-wave surfers, and one of the world’s most prolific surf adventurers. Out of the water, and into the night, his quest for fun and good times is almost as legendary as his surfing. He simply lives for the moment, always ready to take a chance and never ever wondering what might have been.