Best Sections of All-Time: Ross and Benji in Loose Change

Ross Williams is always takin’ care of business. He’s been a commentator for the WSL, a coach to the John John, Betty Lou, and other surf stars, but before all of that, Ross just so happened to be one of the best surfers in the world, and my personal favorite surfer.

My first time watching the US Open of Surfing live was in 1994. They were handing out the latest issue of Surfing Magazine with Ross Williams featured on the cover on the beach and I got one.

I grabbed my copy and as soon as I saw Ross getting out of the water I bee-lined it down the beach to get his autograph on my mint September ‘99 issue. Right as I started to get close I cartwheeled and got a mouthful of sand. He signed my mag but his wet arm smudged the page and once it dried it crinkled up. At first I was bummed about it, but later on I thought it was cool because my magazine had Ross Williams’ arm print on it. 

This photo became a massive source of inspiration for me. It was a turn that plenty of guys did, but the way Ross did it spoke to me. His arms placed perfectly, back leg extended, the evident amount of force going into the turn, and somehow he did it with total finesse all at the same time.

I stared at the photo for hours and tried many times to visualize myself doing that same turn. (much like the boy in The “Death” of Surf Photography: A Lesson in Three Images) I’d practice that turn on the speed bump on my skateboard in the parking lot behind the apartment in Downey I lived in. Then after dark I would put my surfboard on the bed and stand on it in that same stance with my fins dangling off the edge and pretending I was releasing the fins.

When Loose Change released in 1999, Ross made the big screen as a 7-Eleven cashier and threw down a few hammers just like this one. I studied Ross’ part a thousand times over again.

“This is, this stuff is serious….Baskin Robbins…hmmph” 

Benji Weatherley’s Loose Change part is coupled in this week’s look back and definitely deserves a mention. His acting as a police officer is far superior to all other surfers in the film and his surfing is on par with the gang. This part got me fired up for many blown out after school sessions in HB. It still gives me the same froth to get out there today.  

Thankfully Ross and Benji didn’t continue down the path at 7-Eleven or a career on COPS. We’re all better off they stuck to making surf movies. —Brandon